Germany agrees to ban internal combustion engine vehicles from EU by 2035 Synthetic fuel recognized

On the 25th (local time), Germany and the EU agreed on a bill related to the phasing out of internal combustion locomotives, which allows only carbon-neutral fuel vehicles to be newly registered from 2035 , according to dpa and Bloomberg News.

Originally, EU law was to ban the sale of all new internal combustion engine vehicles, but reflecting Germany’s request, internal combustion engine vehicles using synthetic fuel (E-Fuel) were recognized as an exception.

Frans Timmermans, EU Commissioner for Climate Protection, tweeted that an agreement had been reached with Germany on synthetic fuel.

“Europe remains ‘technology neutral’,” said German Transport Minister Volker Wissing.

The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of 27 member states agreed in October last year through tripartite negotiations to implement a bill banning carbon dioxide emissions from small trucks, such as cars and vans with internal combustion engines, from 2035 .

Normally, for new EU law to be implemented, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament both go through the final approval process after the tripartite negotiations have ended, but Germany and Italy gave the brakes on at the last minute.

Germany has been arguing that internal combustion engine vehicles that use synthetic fuel made by synthesizing hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) should be allowed to be sold.

If it is produced with renewable energy and carbon harvested from the air, it is carbon neutral.

However, some point out that it is difficult to expect mass production of synthetic fuel in a short period of time, and that it should be used first for aviation and ships, which have no alternatives to automobiles.

The EU will go through a formal voting process in Brussels on the 25th at the earliest.

Since Germany has already expressed its support, there is no problem in passing it even if other countries oppose it.

/happy news