The European Commission has announced that it has reached an agreement that only cars that do not emit CO2 can be sold in the European Union after 2035. Although Italy and Germany wanted to allow vehicles to use biofuels or synthetic fuels after 2035, Germany has lifted its veto on the already-negotiated and agreed-upon legislation. Germany’s transport minister has welcomed the fact that “vehicles with internal combustion engines can continue to be registered after 2035 if they are fuelled exclusively with CO2-neutral fuels.”
Synthetic fuels are a possible solution for maritime and air transport, which are more difficult to electrify due to the distances they travel. In Valencia, researchers are looking for an efficient way to produce a fuel from green hydrogen and CO2 obtained from industries. The use of ethanol or ammonia as a base for these new synthetic gasolines is also being investigated.
However, the cost of producing these fuels is high, and it may be a challenge to make them economically attractive. Some estimates suggest that driving a car with synthetic fuel could cost around €10,000 more than a battery-electric one for five years. Although progress is being made in synthetic fuel technology, the basis for these new synthetic gasoline could also be ethanol or ammonia, which could be more economical.
In short, while the European Commission wants only cars that emit no CO2 to be sold by 2035, Italy and Germany want to allow vehicles using biofuels or synthetic fuels. Germany has lifted its veto on the legislation, which means that only non-CO2-emitting cars can be sold in the EU starting in 2035. Synthetic fuel technology is being investigated as a possible solution for shipping and aviation, but the cost of producing these fuels remains a challenge to making them economically attractive.