This influential group in the European Parliament wants to preserve the internal combustion engine.
The core group in the European Parliament is EPP (European People’s Party)wants to keep combustion engines on the common market after 2035. According to a draft seen by some media, conservative lawmakers want to revise rules to reduce carbon emissions for cars and vans.
The goal? To allow the use of climate-neutral “alternative” fuels. This could put you in a compromising situation. Ursula von der Leyenwho is seeking a second term as head of the European Commission. Although he belongs to the EPP, he will also need the support of the Social Democrats, who oppose a downward revision of policy to combat climate change.
The European Union has already considered exempting cars running on synthetic fuels from the tax, so it is not entirely clear what the EPP will seek in its proposal. To remove the obligation for these vehicles to run exclusively on e-fuels? Add biofuels to the list of exceptions?
In its current form, the standard requires manufacturers to design a system that prevents a car from starting if it is using regular fuel. Brands will therefore have to develop a device that monitors the chemical properties of the fuel to prevent the use of petrol or diesel that are not climate neutral.
Synthetic fuels are not a viable alternative
Synthetic fuel is made from green hydrogen and secondary carbon dioxide. Your main problem is, its low energy efficiencyBattery-powered electric vehicles use 77% of their energy production compared to 16% for fossil fuel-powered models, according to Transport & Environment.
Moreover, this technology is not cost competitive and this will not change in the coming decades. Alfonso de las Heras, Hydrogen and Synthetics Consultant at Repsol’s Technology Laboratorynoted last year that “From 2030-2050 the cost (of electronic fuel)” will “two to three euros per liter.”
Five major European manufacturers (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Stellantis and Volkswagen) have already made it clear on several occasions that e-fuels could help decarbonize fleet in circulation; However, no one considers this a viable solution for new cars. In practice, only niche firms such as Ferrari or Porsche would benefit from this exemption.
Source | European Automotive News