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Germany prevailed in the dispute over the internal combustion engine ban in the European Union (EU). Therefore, new cars with conventional diesel or petrol engines will no longer be able to be registered from 2035. However, from now on, vehicles that can be refueled only and exclusively with so-called e-fuels produced synthetically will be able to continue to be put on the market.
German Transport Minister Volker Wissing (52) and the German ruling party FDP thus earned an exception. Just last summer, a complete ban on internal combustion engines from 2035 was seen as a completed deal – even Wissing and FDP had no objections. But in the last second before the final vote in the Council of Member States, they both changed their minds and massively criticized the planned arrangement: According to them, the CO2– ensured neutrality, but effectively banned a technology that still offers potential for the development of climate-friendly drivers.
The engine does not run on gasoline
Wissing has e-fuels in particular in mind: These fuels are made from CO2.2 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.
However, the compromise found requires technical solutions to ensure that new cars approved for e-fuels can actually only be driven on such fuels and not run on conventional and possibly cheaper petrol or diesel. This will be possible with special fuel filler nozzles, such as those already found in diesel vehicles, to prevent misfuelling with gasoline and thus engine damage. It would also be possible to add marker chemicals. If these are missing, the engine will not start.
pouring criticism
In other words, Germany prevailed on e-fuel. But at what price? The EU Parliament criticized the last-minute cancellation of a decision that had actually been taken after Germany’s complaints, and this damaged the credibility of the EU. “Brussels has done Europe a disservice,” criticizes German industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer (71). “The EU Commission’s unprofessional approach has fueled the debate over whether it is really right to rely so uncompromisingly on the electric car.”
However, first of all, the benefits of e-fuels in the automotive industry are controversial. The disadvantages of e-fuels are the inefficiency of their production, currently still in small quantities, and transported by liquid gas driven tanker or diesel truck. Larger-scale production is just getting started. But even at the final stage, German sports car manufacturer Porsche’s project in Chile, for example, will only be able to meet 2.5 percent of the total gasoline needs in Germany, according to the trade magazine Auto-Motor-Sport. Swiss start-up Synhelion will primarily use e-fuels as CO2– Supply neutral kerosene to Switzerland. In air traffic, as well as in transportation, the use of e-fuels can currently result in significantly higher CO.2-Get a reduction in road traffic.
Industry faster than EU
It is currently questionable when e-fuels can actually make a significant contribution to fuel economy. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (64) welcomed the reconciliation with the EU. But he also admitted, according to the German magazine “Spiegel”: “No one can say how many people will use it and whether it will be relevant.” VW and Porsche boss Oliver Blume (54) has always spoken in favor of e-fuels in the debate about banning combustion engines, but he sees them more as “niche applications”. The majority of car manufacturers, especially in Europe, want to switch to 100 percent battery electric cars by 2030. And so long before the planned end of internal combustion engines in the EU.
For Dudenhöffer, the forward and reverse movements can have one effect in particular: “All suppliers of parts and components for combustion engines sense new opportunities for the old drive.” Compromise could open road traffic’s path to CO2– Slow down even neutrality.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
