While the ban on the sale of thermal engine vehicles in the European Union from 2035 seemed to have been taken, Germany turned around, arguing the lack of consideration for synthetic fuel thermal engines. This exception seems to have been overlooked. However, in 2022, the European Parliament had allowed some exceptions for manufacturers selling less than 10,000 vehicles/year with amendment 121 (baptized “Ferrari amendment”), the battle horse of Italian deputies.
Postponed vote sine die
Following the validation of the measure by the Environmental Committee of the European Parliament, with 340 votes against 279, all that was needed was the approval of the Council of the European Union to finalize the project. But this is the moment that Germany has chosen to join the few recalcitrant countries such as Italy, Poland or Bulgaria.
This position prompted the Council to “defer the decision to a later meeting”. Indeed, if Italy, Poland, and Bulgaria, which wishes to abstain, do not have the means to block the decision, the opposition in Berlin is reshuffling the cards. The text no longer obtains the favorable vote of at least 55% of the representatives and 65% of the population of the EU. Without the green light from Germany, the Council does not reach the qualified majority required within the Twenty-Seven.
Germany in thought
The debates are not closed, however, and the ban on thermal vehicles in 2035 remains topical. Indeed, the German Transport Minister said:
Without directly opposing the bill, Berlin wants it to be more explicit about the use of engines using synthetic fuel. Although the production of the latter is very energy-intensive, and requires low-carbon energy to limit its environmental impact, many German manufacturers are studying various options so as not to give up on the heat engine, like the VAG Group and Porsche, which uses synthetic fuel in its racing cars.
This exception would make it possible to preserve the achievements of many years of research around the combustion engine. In addition, the latter requires more parts and employees than its electric counterpart, representing a major employment sector for Germany.
These considerations are likely to relaunch the debate on the said ban, with some arguing that the Council may have condemned thermal vehicles a little too quickly insofar as the production of these remains for the moment less polluting and less expensive. In addition, Germany (like France) is one of the countries that supports the review clause which will make it possible to take stock in 2026 to study the new technologies available to support the decarbonisation of the car fleet.