If you pay attention to the news, it seems that Europe has been the region where most of the battle for climate change mitigation has been taking place. Of the EU member countries, Germany has been among the most progressive with its push for renewable energy. According to German news outlet Der Spiegel, officials could be on the verge of becoming a lot more stringent with permissible automobile emissions standards, so much so that not even turbochargers will be able to save the internal combustion engine.

That's because a new proposal has just reached the upper houses of German parliament after receiving support from multiple parties. Within the pages of the proposed law is a ban on all combustion engines that's set to go into effect in 2030, if the proposal is passed. Green party lawmaker Oliver Krischer told Der Spiegel, "If the Paris agreement to curb climate-warming emissions is to be taken seriously, no new combustion engine cars should be allowed on roads after 2030." German officials won't only be attempting to impose the law on its own citizens. If all goes well, German lawmakers will head to Brussels to argue and attempt to get the rest of the EU to pass similar constraints. Most German automakers have already been preparing for the transition.

Every company from BMW and Mercedes to Volkswagen and its subsidiaries are preparing to make the leap to a world without internal combustion engines. Regardless, the law could have huge implications for car shoppers if passed. Spokespersons for BMW M and Mercedes-AMG have already made mention of the fact that both of those marquees will go full electric at some point. But even if demand increases due to the potential popularity of German EVs, factory workers would be laid off since the simplicity of electric powertrains means that only a tenth of the workforce is needed to build electric cars. With a move like this, the US would likely follow suit at some undetermined point.