Germany is angry again

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In the dispute over the end of combustion engines in Europe, the European Union Commission (EU) presented a compromise proposal. Accordingly, despite the ban on internal combustion engines in new cars from 2035, new registration of such vehicles may continue to be possible. Prerequisite: It must be ensured that it can only be used with synthetic fuels obtained from sustainable production, called e-fuel.

According to the EU Commission, such cars should be fitted with a technical device that recognizes that conventional gasoline or diesel is used instead of e-fuel. In this case, the engine should refuse to start. If you refuel normally, the vehicle should stand still. Whether the wrong fuel was accidental or deliberate is irrelevant. Gasoline and diesel will be on the market after 2035. However, only to run existing combustion vehicles that have been amortized before the reference year. Not for new cars anymore.

Hiccups between EU and Germany

In doing so, the EU Commission is trying to build a bridge for the German federal government so that the EU can pass the internal combustion engine ban. First of all, the ruling party in Germany, the FDP, and the Minister of Transport, Volker Wissing (52) oppose the planned ban. Actually, that wouldn’t be CO₂-Neutrality is introduced, but the internal combustion engine is banned as a technology – the FDP rejects it, because it also hinders technological progress in the service of climate protection.

In particular, the FDP complains that the development of e-fuels is hindered. These fuels are made from CO₂ synthetically produced and sustainably generated electricity from ambient air or industrial processes. For balance, they count as CO₂-neutral because no additional fossil carbon is released when burned, as with oil or coal. Technically, e-fuels have the advantage that they can be used in existing combustion engines and that normal gas station infrastructure can continue to be used.

Alternatively, E fuels

Sports car maker Porsche is already producing such e-fuels at a factory in Chile. Swiss start-up Synhelion also plans large-scale production from CO₂ and the heat of reaction from solar energy. In the medium term, the Swiss aircraft fleet will be primarily fueled with kerosene produced in this way. In addition, car fuel will also be refined. However, the downside of e-fuels is the inefficiency of their production and their small production volume, which can barely meet some of the European demand at the moment.

The surprising thing about German resistance: In November, Wissing initially approved a regulation that, in addition to banning internal combustion engines, also clarifies the future role of e-fuels. This has already been decided by the EU Parliament. However, as the deadline for EU member states’ final decision on regulation approached, he backed off and vetoed Germany. Bulgaria, Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic, among others, block it.

Refusal even when agreed?

As the German newspaper “Spiegel” reported, Wissing apparently also rejects the EU Commission’s current compromise proposal. Time is of the essence: As reported by Deutschlandfunk, the proposal will be discussed by member states’ EU ambassadors on 23 March. Wissing also submitted an alternative proposal last week. Accordingly, combustion engines should also be allowed after 2035, whatever fuel they are fed. In turn, automakers must pay enough for each registered car to produce enough e-fuel for the entire life cycle of the vehicle.

Many automakers also advocate the use of e-fuels in end-of-life vehicles. But most brands expect to only sell fully electric cars in Europe long before 2035.

Source: Blick