EU approves 2035 phaseout - but e-fuels exempt
New EU law finally passed yet the door remains open to CO2-neutral internal combustion after 2035
Closure. That dreaded Americanism that the everyone in the world seems to be looking for in some capacity or another these days. By the way, we’re not belittling the serious stuff – those with real issues in their past have our deepest sympathies. It’s more the language used by so many to describe the often inconsequential stuff; stuff that in the past might have garnered a comment like “Get over yourself.” Anyway, whether that phrase send shivers down your spine or not, here’s some good closure.
The door to buying a combustion-engined car in the EU has not closed, as it looked very likely it would just a few weeks ago. We been reporting in this story since it first surfaced, of course. The EU was due to vote on passing a new law that would ban all new combustion cars being sold in its jurisdiction from 2035. This law looked like a forgone conclusion, right up until the point that Germany’s transport minister – or as we’ve named him, the caped crusader – Volker Wissing piped up and said ‘up with this I will not put,’ or words to that effect, said in German. Thinking about it, it would've been a little ironic if he had used the quote verbatim.
Anyway, it caused a bit of a domino effect. Once Wissing had spoken out, Italy, Poland and various other states stood behind Germany and that caused all sorts of ructions around the EU Commission. The row centred on adding a clause to allow combustion engines to carry on, as long as they ran on bio or synthetic fuels (e-fuels). As you’ll be aware, those are fuels that (providing the energy used to make it is clean) when burned only release CO2 back into the atmosphere that was recovered from the atmosphere to make them. CO2 neutral, in simple terms.
Today’s news from Reuters states that: ‘European Union countries gave final approval on Tuesday to a landmark law to end sales of new CO2-emitting cars in 2035, after Germany won an exemption for cars running on e-fuels.’ It's reported that Poland voted against the law and Italy, Bulgaria and Romania abstained. So there you go: in theory, combustion cars are still viable after that 2035. As always, there are snags, though.
Production of E-fuels isn’t currently scalable – not to the extent it needs to be to serve the mass market. Take Porsche’s plant in Chile for instance. That’s in its pilot phase of e-fuel production right now, which is around 130,000 litres per year. That’s enough to supply projects such as its Porsche Supercup series and its Porsche Experience Centres with sustainable fuel. There are plans to ramp that up to a projected 55 million litres per year by the middle of the decade, and in the latter half of the decade stretch it to around 550 million litres. If that sounds a lot, here’s a sobering thought: in 2021, the US alone consumed 1.6 billion litres of petrol. The other issue is cost, because e-fuels are a lot more expensive than regular fossil-fuel petrol right now.
There will be no mixing and matching, either. Don’t think you’ll be able to buy a new ICE car after the EU ban and stop for a cheeky splash and dash of unleaded. There was talk this week that, as part of the exemption, cars sold with a combustion engine after 2035 must recognise the difference between e-fuel and fossil fuel and not run on the latter. The finer details of how that will happen aren't apparent at the moment, though.
In conclusion, then, we have closure: the door to ICE isn’t closed, which is good. But there are still many things that need to align to allow the cars that we at PH love the most to carry on. It does give us hope that, at the very least, premium manufacturers such as Porsche and Ferrari can officially carry on designing, developing and producing cars with great-sounding and highly characterful engines. If you think that won’t affect you, then think about it this way: cutting edge technology tends to filter down to the common man. It’s just that this time we’re hoping it’s old technology will filter down to us, instead.
Second newsflash - the average punter won’t be able to afford this or the very rare, expensive new car with an engine to still run it.
It is good news for decarbonising classics though.
[/quote]
LOOPHOLE: What if you don’t have a ‘tailpipe’ - would ‘side pipes’ be ok, a la AMG G63…??!!
No? Thought not. Well done greeners - you’ve won. Petrolheads have lost. Enjoy the blandness.
(C) Batterybrains is still available from myself. Prior art here. PH can get in touch via my people if you want to buy.
Asking for evidence while watching the BBC for yours.
But while the media and Google (and similar) refuse to report / show it then only one side (the agenda) gets shown.
^^^^ That is not normal ^^^^
Asking for evidence while watching the BBC for yours.
But while the media and Google (and similar) refuse to report / show it then only one side (the agenda) gets shown.
^^^^ That is not normal ^^^^
It is customary for a person making an assertion rather than stating an opinion to provide some evidence.
I want to continue driving my V8, and I'd much rather pour a carbon-neutral (non-ethanol!) fuel down its carburettor than petrol.
Asking for evidence while watching the BBC for yours.
But while the media and Google (and similar) refuse to report / show it then only one side (the agenda) gets shown.
^^^^ That is not normal ^^^^
I want to continue driving my V8, and I'd much rather pour a carbon-neutral (non-ethanol!) fuel down its carburettor than petrol.
The difference is, I suppose, my gut tells me that I need to fight the corner for the real McCoy.
If e-fuel turns out to be built from a house of cards, as might very well be the case, it will prove to be a monumentally expensive exercise in futility.
I think an increase in cost of petrol will be used to pay for that exercise.
Anyway, it caused a bit of a domino effect. Once Wissing had spoken out, Italy, Poland and various other states stood behind Germany and that caused all sorts of ructions around the EU Commission.
No, I can't either. 
Of course, the legislators will rely on technology to provide the answer (if they figure out how to make it work and until it breaks)!Maybe this will encourage manufacturers, who'll be continuing to make ICE vehicles for other markets, to maintain a supply to the EU and UK so the demand for E-fuels could help to drive manufacturing capacity up and prices down. It does, after all, seem highly profligate to simply bin a technology that's been consistently refine, enhanced and improved over the last 100+ years.
Wab1974 - I think that JFK was shot by aliens. There's lots of evidence out there, go and research it and you'll agree with me.
At the moment it is expensive but will the reverse be possible? That is, will a current ICE run on e-fuel with minimal adaption? If so, the 'your cars will be paperweights' crowd will have to hold back. With bigger production, we'll be able to keep current ICe cars on the road indefinitely, and the stations won't all HAVE to close at all.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff