German Government Commits to Prohibiting Internal Combustion Engine Cars in the EU by 2035 as Synthetic Fuel is Acknowledged

On the 25th (local time), Germany and the EU agreed on a bill related to the phase-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, the 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 fuels.

“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 trilateral negotiations to implement a bill that bans carbon dioxide emissions from small trucks, such as internal combustion engine cars and vans, from 2035.

Usually, for a new EU law to be implemented, the EU Council and the European Parliament each go through the final approval process after the conclusion of the trilateral negotiations, but Germany and Italy put 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 shipping, which have no alternatives to automobiles.

The EU will go through a formal vote 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.

/yunhap news