Over the weekend, I read an article that a compromise was in the works. It sounds like they are one.
— Tree Hug Sister 🎃 (@WelbornBeege) March 27, 2023
What is this? Nearly a year ago, when the European Union plunged headlong into darkness, it decided that banning internal combustion engines in a decade or so would be pretty great on a super green energy neutral resume. So everyone go I votedyay!!!” for this next best idea… except for the picky Germans.
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner has said the government does not agree with plans by the European Union to effectively ban the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines from 2035.
The European Commission has proposed a 100% cut in CO2 emissions from new cars by 2035, aiming to reduce global warming emissions by 55% below 1990 levels by 2030.
Germans love to throw their 900-pound gorilla wrenches at everything, but in this case, besides Italy, there were a few bright-minded, petite EU members on board. Even three weeks ago, German Chancellor Scholz said was sticking to his gun Amid desperate negotiations with the EU hierarchy, they wanted the deal to go through.Germany did not allow the EU to kill ICE, but they it was Willing to massage the problem.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday put pressure on the European Commission to revise its efforts to ban the sale of new polluting combustion engine cars from 2035 by creating a loophole for so-called electronic fuels. He made it clear that he fully supports the effort.
Backed by the Liberal Democrats, a lower-ranking member of Germany’s tripartite coalition, Berlin is reluctant to approve the 2035 deal, even though it has already been agreed by member states and the European Parliament. Germany, joined by Italy, Poland and Bulgaria, has urged the Swedish council presidency to postpone a vote by EU ministers scheduled for Tuesday.
What FDP’s sports car loving leader, Christian Lindner, wants A late change in EU regulations to allow the use of e-fuels made from captured CO2 that can be used as an expensive alternative to fossil fuelsAs currently written, EU regulations will ban exhaust emissions from 2035, effectively excluding CO2 emitting e-fuels. This could force automakers to switch to either electric or hydrogen models, creating potential problems for countries with large auto industries.
(Get that part about “”.expensive replacementWhat about fossil fuels? That’s the plan, Stan. No one but the elite drives anything anywhere. Those books are already cooked. )
Part of the problem was of the EU’s own making. Germany and Italy wanted an agreement on these new eFuels. Before The proposed ICE ban bill was ratified, as was the continent’s fairly robust car manufacturing industry.they looked down on fate From Brussels in a stroke of a pen (I suspect some of the autoworkers mentally connect it to the plight of the Dutch peasants…?).
…German Transport Minister Volker Wissing said on Tuesday that Berlin now hopes to present the law ahead of Brussels approving the plan, and that it has not yet done so, “the German government is willing to compromise.” I cannot approve it,” he said.
Italy’s environment ministry said environmental targets should be pursued so as not to harm employment and production, and that electric vehicles should not be seen as the only path to zero emissions.
Two other countries also oppose the law. Poland has told other member states it plans to vote against it, while Bulgaria has indicated it plans to abstain, four of her EU diplomats said. The Polish government had previously said such a ban would limit consumer choice and lead to higher costs. can get a lot of votes.
…Germany, home to the region’s largest automaker, announced this week that it would soon approve the use of synthetic fuels in the country.
What happened this weekend must have worked for most parties, as Germany lifted the threat of a veto.this morning All 27 EU Member States Approved the agreement.
The 27 EU member states on Monday approved a deal between Brussels and Germany that would lift Berlin’s block on phasing out sales of new fossil fuel cars by 2035.
A spokesman for Sweden, the EU presidency, said the ambassador supported the deal. The energy minister is expected to give a final green light on Tuesday during a meeting in Brussels.
At EUlandia, everything got better, right?
all happy, happy, joy, joy
Here is where I don’t understand Europeans. As if they haven’t had a horrible last ten months or so, with their thoughtless and horribly planned rush to unreliable, untested and expensive renewable energy, Because of all the catchy tropes that come with it, just to nod and learn from the miserable misery… none?
Germans in particular seem to love doubling the dummkopf. Earlier in the month, after a terrifyingly cold, dark, and devastatingly costly winter for German citizens, I posted about how Scholz was intent on shutting down the remaining nuclear power plants. Replace them with coal-fired power plants!!! how green is it? How trustworthy are you?
And this is all Scholz’s fault succumbed to the greens How can I complete this transaction so that the ICE ban can pass?
…the ban on internal combustion engines is key to the EU’s ambitious efforts to achieve a ‘climate-neutral’ economy with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
…the fuel that Germany asked for exemption still in development It should be produced using low-carbon electricity. But environmentalists disagree.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz succumbed to pressure from his liberal partners to maintain the unity of his fragile coalitionThis included the Greens, who wanted a fuel that could expand the use of internal combustion engines.
As if that wasn’t enough, they sold their soul for a key point of carbon neutrality with a technology-based carveout. they don’t have yet!
can you say “Dream Story”?
…The production of electronic fuels, also known as synthetic or electric fuels, begins with the process of electrolysis, which splits water (H2O) into hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O). The hydrogen is then mixed with carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce liquid e-fuel.
This e-fuel is then refined into e-gasoline, e-diesel, e-kerosene, e-methanol, among other derivative products that have similar commercial purposes to the fossil fuels they are trying to replace.
…Germany claims it can offset these harmful emissions by decarbonizing the entire manufacturing process. This requires a mix of fully green hydrogen with carbon dioxide captured directly from the air and the use of 100% renewable electricity throughout the value chain.
“E-fuel is climate-neutral if it is produced with renewable energy,” said a German spokesperson.
However, the current state of the market suggests that the target faces an uphill battle. More than 96% of the hydrogen currently produced in Europe comes from natural gas, and carbon capture technology has fallen short of expectations despite decades of development.
These tight conditions put pressure on prices and supply, e-fuel demotion For a niche and wealthy audience And it’s obscuring one of their key assets. E-fuel can be stored and shipped at room temperature around the world, as opposed to electricity that is generated for immediate consumption.
… E-fuel has been criticized for being less energy efficient than its main rival in green transport, the electric vehicle.
The International Clean Transportation Council (ICCT), an independent research institute based in Washington, found that on average 48% of the renewable power used to convert e-fuels to liquids is lost during the process, with up to 70% I’m assuming that % is lost. Fuel energy is lost during combustion.
This gives an efficiency of 16%.
In contrast, according to the ICCT, electric vehicles lose only 10% of the power to charge and 20% to the motor, giving an efficiency of 72%.
It’s like watching the fish slapping dance in Green Fever Dream. It’s ridiculously seductive, but it makes me wonder why someone would get repeated painful slaps.
holy smokeDisclaimer of responsibility to the country you lead.
Italy and small countries still againstbut they are now a minority bloc and cannot stop moving forward.
What a mess and they just keep digging.