Germany has finally agreed to the text providing for the banning of new vehicles from the territory of the European Union. And this, thanks to an exception which has just been granted to him.
The EU wants to get rid of new thermal vehicles from 2035 in order to significantly reduce its CO emissions2. After an initial blockage on the part of Germany, this objective is again on the agenda with this agreement reached between Brussels and Berlin.
Germany said yes
What Germany wants, the European Union concedes? This idea finds its most perfect illustration in the latest muddle within the European authorities. While the regulation intended to ban thermal vehicles built from 2035 onwards from the Old Continent was reaching its final phase, it was finally rejected at the beginning of the month, and to everyone’s surprise, by Germany.
Europe’s largest economy feared for its powerful car industry and demanded an exception for thermal cars using synthetic fuels. However, after a few weeks of discussions, Europe has finally “ reached an agreement with Germany on the future use of synthetic fuels in cars “, explains on Twitter the European Commissioner for the Environment Frans Timmermans.
The problem with synthetic fuels
What does that mean ? German Transport Minister Volker Wissing explains: Vehicles equipped with a combustion engine can be registered after 2035 if they only use neutral fuels in terms of CO2 emissions2. »
The famous neutral fuels are a technology defended by German and Italian manufacturers, and which would make it possible to extend the life of thermal vehicles in our countries while respecting the requirements of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
However, synthetic fuels are still a solution under development, and particularly decried by NGOs, for whom it would be too expensive, energy-consuming, and above all polluting. Will blocking the European process in this way be worth it at a time when manufacturers of electric vehicles like Tesla want to significantly lower the cost of their vehicles in the years to come?
Source : France info
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