Brussels Cancels Looming Ban on Internal Combustion Engine Cars – U.K. Government “Prepared to Follow Suit”

by Will Jones
29 March 2023 9:00 AM

A looming British ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine cars was thrown into chaos on Tuesday after Brussels watered down its own restrictions amid opposition from the German auto industry. The Telegraph has more.

Experts and politicians warned that British rules due to take effect in 2030 are untenable following the European climbdown, which will allow internal combustion engines as long as they burn carbon-neutral petrol alternatives.

The European Union will now ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2035 but permit these so-called e-fuels following a backroom compromise forced on it by the German authorities and signed off on Tuesday night.

Sources suggested that Whitehall was considering following the Commission’s lead by also allowing an e-fuel exemption. British carmakers Aston Martin and McLaren are already understood to be examining e-fuels as an option for powering future models.

Critics of the Government’s Net Zero plans seized on the European Union’s decision as evidence that a total policy rethink is needed, while campaigners including Greenpeace have said that it could slow down electric vehicle adoption. …

The former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: “The 2030 deadline for the elimination of petrol and diesel engine cars in the U.K. is simply not achievable. Unless we delay, we hand a massive boost to the Chinese car manufacturers. They are already dominant.”

Britain is to ban the sale of new cars that run on petrol and diesel only in seven years’ time under plans drawn up by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

New hybrids will still be allowed until 2035, at which point the U.K. will only permit fully electric cars and other zero-emission [sic] vehicles, such as those which burn hydrogen.

The EU’s e-fuel exemption will allow a synthetic alternative to petrol which is made by mixing carbon dioxide captured from the air with hydrogen obtained by splitting water molecules using renewable energy.

This is expected to be far more expensive than petrol, meaning it will initially benefit high-end carmakers whose customers will not be put off by the costs involved.

However, Benedetto Vigna, the boss of Ferrari, said this week that he expects the price to fall in coming years and experts believe it could be the thin end of a wedge that would allow carmakers to focus on producing lower-cost e-fuels instead of expensive battery powered cars.

Andrew Graves, a car industry veteran and professor at the University of Bath, said: “I think it’s a very exciting technology that we’re looking at, so that we can not only use it for things like motorsport, but we can also more importantly use it for keeping existing vehicles on the road. I think there’s a lot of things that the Government needs to look at before it goes hell bent on just having a blanket ban on diesel or petrol.”

Mr Graves added that there is already a risk that not enough electric car chargers and battery-making plants will have been built when the ban takes effect – a problem that may worsen if carmakers sense it is being watered down. …

The Telegraph understands that the British Government is prepared to follow the EU’s lead, with the Department for Transport understood to be amenable towards synthetic fuels so long as the industry can prove that they will be carbon neutral. …

Greg Smith, a Tory MP who sits on the Transport Select Committee, said: “Groupthink has dictated battery electric to be the way forward for too long when we’re already seeing the technology fail and not develop at the pace people need. The 2030 ambition isn’t realistic in the first place and we need the innovators and the automotive companies to be given the time and space to produce a time and space and not just jump to the betamax that’s available now.”

Can't wait to see what kookifornia does when the deadline approaches

Jim, it is bound to be a shit show.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:


Can't wait to see what kookifornia does when the deadline approaches

Capitalism at work, electrics sell well where they make sense. I doubt there will be many of them in Sawyers Bar...

The only issue I see with the EV debate is, I do not buy them as a major resolution to climate change. This is because that major increase in electric production will have to be met (more coal burned).

Reality is a terrible monster.

Grizz

I'd support the electric vehicle thing, if they would stop trying to simply jam it down my throat.

and.

if they'd actually take 20 minutes to figure out the needs of all those vehicles, and start building an infrastructure and power plants to deal with the increased needs/demands they are creating.

Harry and Meghan will get upset

They will all be cancelled when deadlines arrive as EV alternatives will not be able meet demands of today much less that required in another decade.

A friend has been asking me non stop to try an EV.

He went as far as to offer one for me to use for free, as long as I wished!

Not on your life mate!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
A friend has been asking me non stop to try an EV.

He went as far as to offer one for me to use for free, as long as I wished!

Not on your life mate!

You are missing out somewhat.

I agree they are not practical for my lifestyle, but the top end Tesla roadster is a fun car to drive. Its very fast and has ungodly good acceleration.

I agree that if I lived and do what you do, its not practical as a vehicle to go out and mess around in the desert, but driving in Dubai for shortish (under 200 miles) trips that will get you returning home in a few hours, you might be surprised how fun they can be to drive.

I was invited to drive a Lucid about a month ago.
First electric I have driven.
Really nice car. 500 miles on a charge(certain that is under optimum conditions). I believe 18 minutes to recharge to tho 200 miles.
Making progress.
Nice car; 3 models i believe. The body is the same with different power plants from 400 HP to 1050 HP.

Expensive.
Limited infrastructure to support extended travel.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
A friend has been asking me non stop to try an EV.

He went as far as to offer one for me to use for free, as long as I wished!

Not on your life mate!

You are missing out somewhat.

I agree they are not practical for my lifestyle, but the top end Tesla roadster is a fun car to drive. Its very fast and has ungodly good acceleration.

I agree that if I lived and do what you do, its not practical as a vehicle to go out and mess around in the desert, but driving in Dubai for shortish (under 200 miles) trips that will get you returning home in a few hours, you might be surprised how fun they can be to drive.

I am not missing anything my friend.

Most of driving is in 4 wheel off road cars, and I go where electricity does not exists if I run out of juice.

If I am going further than my full tank takes me, I carry extra fuel.

Imagine doing that in a silly Tesla!