In an apparent move to make its vehicle fleet 100% electric, the European Union had announced plans to completely ban combustion engines starting in 2035.
While manufacturers protested against the measure, Europe seemed unwavering. Now, it appears that a letter sent by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen persuaded the governing body to step back from the ban.
In an interview with the German newspaper Handelsblatt, the Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism stated that the letter was “very well received in Brussels.”
Apostolos Tzitzikostas confirmed that internal combustion engines will continue to be used after 2035, but only in vehicles powered by renewable and low-emission fuels, such as synthetic fuels and biofuels.
One example is HVO100, made entirely from hydrotreated vegetable oil derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. BMW already fuels its diesel cars manufactured in Germany with HVO100, which, according to the company, reduces emissions by 90% compared to regular diesel.
Synthetic gasoline is also a possibility and, theoretically, could reduce emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional gasoline.
For several years, Porsche has been experimenting with eFuel. Since late 2022, the company has been producing synthetic fuel at a plant in Chile, using water and carbon dioxide processed with wind energy in a process that is “virtually carbon-neutral.”
However, it is important to emphasize that it seems extremely unrealistic for the infrastructure required to support synthetic fuels and biofuels to be ready in just nine years.
The EU had planned to release the details of the proposed measures on December 10, but the package has been postponed to the end of this month. It remains to be seen whether plug-in hybrids will continue to exist after 2035 and whether extended-range engine cars will also be allowed.
It is worth noting that, if approved, the measure would only apply to new vehicle sales. Owners of cars with combustion engines will still be able to refuel and drive their vehicles normally even after the new set of rules comes into effect.
Photo: Unsplash This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
