I don't know if the EU is taking the right approach. I don't personally see how this kind of deadline will nudge anyone along. Perhaps it will let car manufacturers know that their Britain division will not do as well in 2050 if they do not develop now, but I doubt that's what they were going for. I think the EU needs to provide consumer incentives to buy EVs, such as designated lanes or parking, or tax rebates. Companies producing electric cars are really going out on a limb right now, and until they know that there's some kind of serious demand beyond the environmentally minded, who simply want AN electric car to exist, they can't understand their demographics or create a sense of direction for their R&D. Quite simply, If governments want electric cars to catch on, they need to turn the project into an industry, not a charity effort. And for the industry to catch initially, the companies need to understand the demands of their first customers, those who are most willing to buy. They can build from there. The idea of creating a deadline turns the prospect into more of a charity effort toward the environment, not a self regulating, consumer rich industry. Environmental aspiration is important, which is why the governments need to press the gas pedal in the first place, but the companies need real paying customers to grow, not deadlines.

That, or I'm missing something having to do with the logistics of this whole thing.