Synthetic fuels can continue to give life to gasoline and diesel engines

Although the burial is set for 2035

The burial of combustion engines has long been set for 2035. Family members don’t want to wait any longer because it would be so damaging. But even so, there is a faction of that family that wants to postpone his burial. Where is the key? In the e-fuels or synthetic fuels that Porsche and Siemens are already manufacturing in Chile.

As is already known, the proposal of the European Commission to ban the sale of new cars that emit CO₂ from 2035 already has the approval of the European Council, or what is the same, of the heads of state and government of the member states.

In principle, member states have agreed on a target of 55% reduction in CO_₂ emissions from new cars and 50% reduction in new vans by 2030 compared to 2021 levels. And, by 2035, achieve a 100% reduction in CO₂ emissions from new cars and vans by 2035.

The European Commission’s proposal called ‘Fit for 55’ is not going to be changed. What does vary is that the European Council has authorized e-fuels, the so-called synthetic fuels, and urges the European Commission to seek a proposal for the registration of vehicles that run on this type of fuel.

The communiqué drafted by the European Council reads as follows: “The agreement includes language on CO-neutral fuels._₂, according to which, after consulting interested parties, the Commission will submit a proposal for the registration of vehicles running exclusively on CO-neutral fuels_₂ after 2035.”

It adds that it will be “in accordance with EU law, outside the scope of fleet rules, and in accordance with the EU’s objective of climate neutrality.”

Similarly, a clause has been included so that in 2026 the European Commission “thoroughly evaluates the progress made in achieving the objectives of reducing 100% of emissions and the need to review these objectives taking into account technological advances”.

Within this framework, “plug-in hybrid technologies and the importance of a viable and socially equitable transition to zero emissions” are also included.

This means, neither more nor less, that the European Union lends itself to a review of these objectives depending on the market penetration of electric cars and plug-in hybrids. And there, the petrol and diesel engines get a breath of fresh air.

We must remember and emphasize that by 2030, the goal of reducing CO emissions_₂ 55% compared to 2021 means going from an average emissions per manufacturer of 95g/km today to an average of only 42.75 g/km (leaving aside the possible upward fluctuations due to the average weight of the vehicles).

This fact implies an average consumption approved in WLTP cycle of less than 2.1 l/100 km in a car with a petrol engine and 1.9 l/100 km in a car with a diesel engine (two consumptions equivalent to 50g/km of CO_₂).

Source: TopGear