According to the previous resolution by the EU, sales of internal combustion engine cars will be banned after 2035 to comply with the EU’s carbon emission goals. However, the German Ministry of Transportation opposed the ban at the last minute, after the law was passed in EU countries and the European Parliament last year.
According to Reuters, Germany and the EU have reached a compromise on the proposed ban on internal combustion engine cars starting in 2035. Car manufacturers can continue to sell products using internal combustion engines, but they must use synthetic fuels.
Germany and Italy both have large automobile industries and opposed the EU’s initial proposal to phase out internal combustion engine cars from 2035. As part of the compromise, the European Commission agreed to create a new category of cars specifically for models that can only use synthetic fuels. The next step will be a vote on March 28 in Brussels, Belgium.
In Europe, cars using synthetic fuels need to have technology to prevent the use of gasoline or diesel. Once a vehicle uses other fuels, the built-in technology will prevent the vehicle from operating. However, there are currently no details on how car manufacturers will implement these systems.
Synthetic fuels (e-fuel) are a substitute fuel made from captured carbon dioxide or monoxide and hydrogen from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and nuclear power. This process uses carbon dioxide when burned and releases approximately the same amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, resulting in a lower overall carbon footprint. Synthetic fuels are an option to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, especially for long-haul freight, shipping, and air transport.
However, synthetic fuels are not yet produced on a large scale. Porsche is investing in improving this technology. In the pilot phase in Chile, Porsche’s production base plans to produce 34,342 gallons of synthetic fuel per year. The company expects to increase this to 145 million gallons per year, but this is still only a small part of the 134.83 billion gallons of fuel used in the United States in 2021.
Source：IThome
