European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seeking a second term, advocates for synthetic fuel technology to achieve the goal of carbon-neutral automobiles by 2035.
This approach would allow for the continued use of internal combustion engines, according to a document released Thursday.
EU’s Zero-Emission Mandate and German Pushback
In the spring of 2023, the European Union approved a mandate requiring all new cars to be zero-emission, a central measure in the bloc’s climate plan.
This regulation effectively meant the end of gasoline, diesel, and hybrid engines in new vehicles from 2035, favoring a shift to fully electric vehicles.
However, Germany, with its powerful automotive industry, pushed back and secured a commitment from the European Commission to explore synthetic fuels. They argued that this technology could achieve the zero-emission goal while preserving a role for internal combustion engines, a sector of European excellence.
Von der Leyen’s Commitment to Technological Neutrality
Von der Leyen confirmed this concession to the industry in a document outlining the political priorities of the next Commission for the 2024-2029 period.
The document, released Thursday, states that achieving the “goal of climate neutrality” for cars by 2035 “will require a technology-neutral approach, in which synthetic fuels will have a role to play.”
The Commission President promises “a targeted amendment of the regulation as part of the planned review” of the CO2 emissions legislation.
Synthetic Fuels: A Contentious Solution
Synthetic fuel technology, still under development, involves producing fuel from CO2 captured from industrial activities.
While championed by high-end German and Italian automakers as a way to extend the life of internal combustion engines, environmental NGOs criticize it as expensive, energy-intensive, and polluting.
Many experts believe that synthetic fuel technology is unlikely to become mainstream and, at best, would only apply to a minority of luxury vehicles.