The European Union has already presented a year, 2035, as the maximum to abandon traditional combustion and transform mobility to an electric world. However, Bosch points out in a report that zero emissions will only be possible by adding synthetic fuels as well.
Last July, the European Union set a date for the cessation of combustion in the Old Continent. 2035 It is the top year for this propulsion system, forcing brands to reconvert their business model to electric cars, so all new ones that come out from that year on they can only be electric or hydrogen.
For now, the year is not final, it is a proposal and it looks very much like the 27 member countries will not vote for that year, in support of an industry that has been making official when they will be fully electrified. Which does not mean that they continue selling more advanced plug-in hybrids if the deadline is stretched. The transport commissioner has been very clear, electric and hydrogen, without even evaluating the synthetic fuels.
Synthetic fuels can reduce emissions in today’s fleet
This technology has many supporters, as it is also emission-free, and so is Bosch. In the framework of the recent 15th Berlin Automobile Dialogue, which was organized today by the Central Association of German Industry -ZDK- it has become clear that the combustion engine definitely has a future, but only with so-called “climate neutral” fuels. The synthetics that Porsche, Bentley, McLaren and Mazda work on.
The big problem is its currently high price, but it is due to the lack of production capacityTherefore, a significant reduction is expected with sufficient infrastructure on a large scale. This is the direction set by those responsible for the «eFuel Alliance», led by Ralf Diener, who is committed to «influencing the political framework so that the generation of neutral fuel for the climate also becomes a viable business model for Providers”. In short, require the European Union to regulate this matter. Because Germany, one of the great defenders, is not willing to throw in the towel.
The big problem is that reaching climate targets in Europe is as difficult as it is impossible. Björn Noack, Director of Strategy for Sustainable Mobility at Bosch, pointed out the importance of synthetic fuels for the achievement of the objectives, explaining that “up to 4/5 of the cars registered on the road will continue to be equipped with an internal combustion engine by 2030. These older vehicles require around 200 million tons of fuel per year, so this amount can be gradually replaced by synthetic fuels». The component giant already has an artificial and neutral fuel, although it still has to do more research, after criticism received for its high palm oil content.