The European Commission has recently proposed a new regulation that could permit the sales of new cars with internal combustion engines (ICEs) running on e-fuels after 2035 in the European Union (EU). According to Reuters, the draft proposes creating a new type of vehicle category in the EU for cars that solely run on carbon-neutral fuel. These vehicles will be equipped with technology that prevents them from operating if other fuels are used, ensuring that automakers will not be able to sell vehicles that rely on gasoline or diesel to run.
Previously, the EU Parliament voted to ban sales of carbon-emitting vehicles in the Union from 2035. However, intermediate emissions reduction targets of 55% for cars and 50% for vans set for 2030 have yet to be enforced due to last-minute objections from Germany.
Germany’s Transport Minister, Volker Wissing, voiced his support for e-fuels days before a final vote that would have seen the ban put in place. Wissing argued that e-fuels are crucial for operating a climate-neutral vehicle fleet, making it the only viable alternative.
A decision on the draft is expected to be reached tomorrow, with the German car industry closely watching the issue. Volkswagen Group’s CEO recently stated that electric cars and ICE vehicles running on e-fuels need to coexist without competing with each other.
E-fuels are synthesized by capturing carbon dioxide emissions and hydrogen produced using renewable energy, effectively making them carbon-neutral. However, current worldwide production of e-fuels is far from enough to meet the demand for gasoline-burning cars. Some estimates suggest that it would only cover 10% of Germany’s demand in aviation, shipping, and chemicals in the next few years.
