It is a symbolic position taken by the European Commission: last week, Germany opposed within the 27 the ban on combustion engines in 2035. This major reform has been pushing car manufacturers for months to abandon these historic engines, in favor of electric engines. But several players (states and car manufacturers) accuse it of pushing arbitrarily towards electric, without considering all the alternatives to traditional thermal (diesel, gasoline).
Allow synthetic fuels after 2035
Among these alternatives, there are in particular synthetic fuels (e-fuels in English), obtained from “recycled” CO2, coming from industrial activities using low-carbon electricity. Some manufacturers like Porsche firmly believe in it. The Volkswagen group brand is already marketing its e-fuel, and places a lot of hope in it to allow thermal engines to be authorized after 2035. Because the advantage of e-fuel is that it can run any classic heat engine, without the need for mechanical changes. A technological boon, but which is currently very expensive.
CO2 emissions into the atmosphere: the true impact of synthetic fuels like e-fuel on the environment
Germany trusts Porsche and the Volkswagen Group, and it is for this reason that the country has blocked the European Union vote. The Commission has loosened some ballast, and discussions about e-fuels are currently underway. For the EU, it is a question of deciding whether or not synthetic fuels are “green” and sustainable.