EU Allows Carbon Neutral Synthetic Fuels Instead of Petrol and Diesel Engines
The European Union (EU) is reversing its plan to ban combustion engines from new vehicles by 2035. The proposal to ban petrol and diesel cars was made without considering if electric cars could effectively replace them. Prices of electric cars and electricity to run them remain high, and manufacturing electric vehicles can result in more emissions than their petrol or diesel counterparts. This change of heart by the EU means that car manufacturers can now work on developing plugin vehicles with small engines powered by synthetic fuel as an alternative.
Efuels are carbon-neutral, and the EU’s decision to permit their use offers an ideal compromise for plugin vehicles. It will also enable the car industry to keep developing plugin vehicles powered by synthetic fuel when driving over long distances while keeping the battery charged. Porsche and Ferrari are among the supporters of efuels, which are made using captured CO2 emissions.
UK Government Plans Continue with Its Ban on Petrol and Diesel Cars
Although the European Union has allowed synthetic fuels, the UK government will proceed with its plan to ban petrol and diesel cars from 2030. However, no manufacturer will produce cars exclusively for the UK market, putting significant pressure on the country’s car industry.
EU Approves Law to End Sales of CO2-Emitting Cars in 2035
European Union countries’ energy ministers have officially approved a landmark law to end sales of new CO2-emitting cars in 2035. The approval paves the way for Europe’s main climate policy for cars and aims to drive rapid decarbonization of new car fleets across Europe. The EU law requires all new cars sold after 2035 to have zero CO2 emissions and reduce CO2 emissions by 55% from 2030.
Transport accounts for almost a quarter of the EU’s emissions, and the new law will require significant changes to the market. The European Commission promises to create a legal route for sales of new cars that run solely on efuels to continue after 2035, following Germany’s request. The Commission will propose how sales of efuel-only cars can continue in autumn 2023.
Poland voted against the law, while Italy, Bulgaria, and Romania abstained. Although some diplomats were irked by Germany’s late intervention after the agreement had already been reached last year, it is expected to have little effect on most major car manufacturers’ plans. Battery-powered vehicles are expected to remain the primary focus of most carmakers in the European region.
EU Energy Ministers Agree on Voluntary Target to Curb Gas Use by 15%
Aside from approving the landmark law ending sales of CO2-emitting cars, EU energy ministers also agreed on Tuesday to extend a voluntary target to reduce their gas use by 15% for 12 months.
The ministers did not address whether nuclear energy should count towards EU renewable energy targets in this meeting.
Title: The EU’s Changing Stance on Combustion Engines and the Push for Decarbonization
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
