BRUSSELS, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Electric vehicles are likely to make up 85% of new car sales in the EU from 2035, based on its plans to drop an effective ban on new combustion-engine models, although that share ‌could drop as low as 50%, clean transport advocacy group T&E said.

Under pressure from carmakers, ​the European Commission in December proposed a 90% cut in ‍CO2 emissions in 2035 from 2021 levels, instead ⁠of zero for ⁠all new cars and vans.

T&E has criticised the EU's biggest retreat from its green ‌policies in years, saying the proposals ​will allow continued sales of high CO2-emitting vehicles, while Chinese producers race further ahead in battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

The ⁠European Commission said in December ‍that its ​plans would support sales of EVs in the EU and save vehicle makers 2.1 billion euros ($2.5 billion) over three years, ‍freeing up resources for innovation and new electric models.

In a report published on Tuesday, T&E said carmakers could sell anywhere between 5% and 50% of non-BEVs after 2035, the lowest share based on a carmaker continuing to sell high emissions internal combustion ​engine ‍cars, the highest share if it sells the most efficient extended-range plug-in hybrids.

T&E said the most likely figure was ​15%, with sales of some combustion engine and some plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Together with an extended time period to comply with 2030 targets, the report said car CO2 emissions would be 10% higher between 2025 and 2050 than under current tighter rules. 

T&E said there was also a risk of further ​weakening of rules when the proposals came up for debate in the European Parliament and in the Council, the grouping of EU governments.

Both will need to approve ‍the changes. 

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