For years, EU officials had seemed unwilling to give in to automaker demands to walk back its planned ban of internal combustion engines set to go into effect in 2035. Now it seems that after some last-minute delays and pressure from federal governments inside the Union, there will be a change. At least some new cars with combustion engines will be allowed after 2035.
Sustainable Transport Boss Talks About Rule Changes
EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas confirmed to German newspaper Handelsblatt that combustion engine vehicles would be allowed beyond 2035. There is a catch, though, and it’s that the changes will only allow new vehicles that run on low-emission and renewable fuels. In other words, synthetics or biofuels.
Originally, the EU was set to lay out its new plan on December 10. The package has been pushed back to later this month, though there isn’t exactly much time left. The report says it is still undecided whether the EU will allow new extended-range EVs or plug-in hybrids after that 2035 cut, though it seems likely that at least EREVs would be allowed to continue.
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The EU wants the transition to more climate-friendly vehicles to be “economically viable and socially fair,” Tzitzikostas said. To help pursue that, it is looking at “all technological advancements” and that includes combustion engines that emit less pollution.
New Fuels Will Need To Come Fast
There are currently multiple efforts to bring lower-emissions fuels to market. HVO100 is one of those, made from treated vegetable oil and animal fats. BMW and Audi are both working on this fuel, which is said to cut emissions by 90% versus diesel made from crude oil. Audi is even using it to fill the diesel tanks of vehicles leaving two of its German factories.
Porsche is one of the companies focused on efuels. The company is working with a producer called HIF to bring it to mass production. The synthetic fuel is said to be identical to “normal” gasoline, but since it is made from capturing carbon from the air or from algae or other sources, it is intended to be carbon-neutral.
Others, including Toyota, are working on hydrogen not just to power a fuel cell, but to burn in a combustion engine. Burning hydrogen instead of gasoline slashes carbon emissions as well as nitrogen oxide emissions while still having all the perceived benefits of a gas car.
The problem now with all of those is infrastructure. Well, cost and infrastructure. Rolling out a completely new fuel source to every station in just a decade would require massive investment. One look at the current EV charging network, which is already much easier to implement – especially in Europe where 240V power is standard – and its growth over nearly 20 years shows just how much effort is needed.
European Automakers Begging EU To Drop Combustion Engine Ban
They still want to reduce emissions, but want flexibility.
While automakers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis have spoken against the ICE ban, others continue to support it. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has recently spoken in favor of the ban, and Volvo and Polestar have also said they will not reverse course.
Source: Motor1, Handelsblatt
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