Combustion engines end in 2035? Germany mixes up the accounts. Europe surrenders

After two years of negotiations, Germany stirred up a fight in Brussels by withdrawing its support for ending combustion engines in 2035. The decision is based on a desire to add an exemption for vehicles that run on biofuels.

The European Commission plans to allow the sale of new cars with combustion engines after 2035, as long as they use carbon-neutral fuels. And the proposal according to a document he cited Reutersproposes to create a new class of vehicles in the European Union, and those must use technology that prevents them from operating if other types of fuel are used.

The action represented an attempt to resolve a dispute with Germany when the German nation chose to withdraw its support for ending combustion engines. The German position, in addition to being a step back in its words, calls into question the efforts made in the past two years in the context of Euro 7 – the standard that regulates the emission of polluting gases from new vehicles and one of the pillars of the European Green Deal.

What is a carbon neutral fuel?

Carbon-neutral fuels (including kerosene, methane, and others) are produced from capturing carbon dioxide emissions, including hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources or other zero-carbon sources.

This type of fuel releases carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when used in combustion engines. However, because their production involves carbon capture, these emissions are equivalent to carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere and are therefore considered carbon neutral.

The new Franco-German “war”.

After a meeting in Strasbourg, France, a group of countries led by Germany (including Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic) proposed revising the proposal aimed at banning the sale of new vehicles with combustion engines from 2035. The delicate German issues came after months of negotiations throughout a year. 2022 and culminated in an agreement between Member States and the European Parliament.

Days before the final vote that would have put the planned ban into effect, Germany’s transport minister surprised other countries. The main requirement? Permission to sell cars with combustion engines running on carbon neutral fuel.

However, France has ensured that it will support the original plan slated for 2035. According to France’s Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire, France is ready to “fight” for the new legislation, as delaying its approval would be “an environmental and economic issue”. Wrong.” Next to the French-speaking nation are Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

This problem also appears in the wake of, as well as in the face of, the efforts of the rest of the automotive sector in the field of electrification, in what is being closely watched by the German car industry (which is responsible for about a fifth of the country’s industrial revenues).

According to close sources consulted by Reuters, Brussels has imposed a requirement on Germany that cars must be able to distinguish between carbon-free and fossil fuels, a problematic issue because it would force automakers to develop new engines.

In response, Germany’s liberal transport minister, Volker Wessing, chose not to reject the proposal outright and his office revealed this Tuesday that he is in contact with the Commission to try to reach an agreement.

Portugal still supports the original proposal

In response to questions posed by CNN, the Office of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action clarified that “Portugal stands by its position in light of the general orientation reached, in June last year, in the scope of the debate on the carbon dioxide regulation.” . That is, it remains in line with the proposal to achieve carbon neutral emissions in new cars by 2035, under the goal of climate neutrality by 2050.

Duarte Cordero’s office also added that “Portugal is closely following the development of this issue and always has a reference Basic climate lawwhere reference goals are set on this issue.”

in Remarks made at the end of the European CouncilThe Prime Minister also emphasized that Portugal maintains its support for the proposal to ban sales of new combustion vehicles from 2035, within the scope of the European Environmental Agreement. “No, Portugal is not thinking of changing its position, I think it is very clear that we must maintain our goals for ecological transition,” explained Antonio Costa.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the need to decarbonize the economy, a goal that must be achieved “having an open vision of the range of technologies that intend to achieve this goal”, in order to achieve climate neutrality in the European Union by 2050. On the other hand, the Prime Minister did not mention to biofuels, confirming in turn the existence of alternatives such as lithium and hydrogen batteries.

Associations advocate for low-carbon fuels

There is also a platform in the country that aims to encourage the adoption of low carbon fuels, supported by a number of associations ranging from the energy sector to cars, Platform for the Promotion of Low Carbon Fuels (PCBC).

According to Roberto Gaspar, Secretary General of the National Association of Automotive Trade and Repair Companies (ANECRA – a member of the platform), the The association considers it essential to reduce vehicle emissions through low-carbon fuels. However, this is a solution that is still in development and, as such, remains to be properly explored, he says.

In this sense, there are also progressive goals for the integration of low-carbon fuels into Portuguese petrol stations, according to a publication in Republic Diaries. These goals witnessed an increase in the incorporation percentage from 11% to 11.5% by the beginning of 2023, and this percentage is expected to reach 16% in 2029.

However, Roberto Gaspar cautions against the need for increased adoption of these fuels as a means of lowering their production costs, as he sees low-carbon fuels as a complementary response to the energy transition.

On the other hand, because biofuels are more expensive than the fossil counterpart they replace, adopting them could raise the price of fuel at gas stations. However, this increase represents a marginal increase, less than half a cent, included Joao Reis, spokesman for the Portuguese Association of Petroleum Companies (Aptro), a member of the Low Carbon Fuels Platform.

In addition, the Secretary General of ANECRA argues that low-carbon fuels represent an “excellent answer”, not only for new cars, but also for the existing car situation. This, he concludes, is because this solution is applicable, “with some modifications”, to existing combustion cars, although he maintains that the part can already use it without any changes.