EU delays vote on internal combustion engine phaseout (2035) after German pushback

[Artemis]

Breaking news

Earlier today Germany announced its decision to postpone the scheduled 2035 ICE ban decision in the European Union.

Italy, Poland and Bulgaria are prepared to help Germany in blocking the decision.

Germany insists on seeing a proposal for the integration of e-fuels before the EU vote.

"EU delays vote on combustion engine phaseout after German pushback
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...ck-2023-03-03/
"BRUSSELS, March 3 (Reuters) - European Union countries have delayed a planned vote next week on the bloc's landmark law to end sales of new CO2-emitting cars in 2035 after Germany questioned its support for the rules.
No new date for the vote was given and a spokesperson for Sweden, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said EU countries' ambassadors would return to the topic "in due time".
After months of negotiations, the European Parliament, the Commission and EU member states last year agreed to the law, which would require all new cars sold in the EU from 2035 to have zero CO2 emissions - effectively making it impossible to sell combustion engine cars from that date."

"EU postpones vote to ban combustion engines due to meddling from Germany
https://www.electrive.com/2023/03/03...-from-germany/
Mar 3, 2023 - 02:11 pm
The EU states will not vote as planned on Tuesday [March 7, 2023] on the ban of combustion engines in new cars from 2035. The vote was taken off the agenda of the Council of Ministers and postponed indefinitely.
This means that the disruptive manoeuvre of the German political party FDP, as already outlined on Thursday, is having its effect: On Tuesday, the already decided ban in the EU on new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles with combustion engines from 2035 onwards was to be formally sealed by the EU states. But Germany’s Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) revoked his approval of the decision. His party insists on seeing a proposal for the integration of e-fuels before the EU vote. Since there is thus no unity within the federal government, Germany would have had to abstain from the EU vote.
Germany would not be able to overturn the ban on internal combustion vehicles on its own, but Italy, Poland and Bulgaria had already announced that they will not agree or are calling for it to be toned down. Should all four countries refuse to vote in favour, there would be no qualified majority in the Council and the law would be rejected.
After years of negotiations, the European Union has reached a political agreement on a European phase-out of internal combustion vehicles. Germany has so far supported this and the European Council confirmed the draft law in November 2022 with Germany’s approval. The Parliament did likewise shortly afterwards. The only thing still missing is the approval of the member states. Actually a formality.
As the German publication Spiegel reports, the FDP reiterated its no to the plans on Friday morning. “Germany may expect that a proposal will be submitted if such a proposal has been promised,” Wissing said in the morning. He was thus picking up on a promise made by Frans Timmermans, EU Commissioner for Climate Protection, who had pledged in June 2022 to address the issue of e-fuels. However, he did not say exactly when.
The cancellation of the final decision on Tuesday was announced by a spokesperson of the Swedish Council Presidency on Twitter on Friday morning. A vote among EU ambassadors, which is considered a test and was supposed to take place on Wednesday, was also postponed again. The tweet said that the issue would be revisited “at the appropriate time”.
According to the German Tagesschau, Wissing said after the postponement was announced that the question of Germany’s positioning no longer arose. “If it had been asked, Germany would not have agreed today,” he said, referring to the trial vote at EU ambassador level that was actually planned for today. Further information on the next steps would be provided in the course of the day.
The head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is now also intervening to end the FDP’s blockade. On Sunday, all the players – Transport Minister Wissing, Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, Economics Minister Robert Habeck and von der Leyen – will meet at a cabinet retreat in Meseberg, which is actually dedicated to another topic. There is to be a press statement at 5 pm.
As expected, the reactions to the phasing out of the internal combustion engine, which is now on the brink of collapse, are fierce. Yesterday, we quoted statements by Sebastian Bock, German Managing Director of Transport & Environment, as well as the Green transport experts Stefan Gelbhaar and Michael Bloss. But also from supporter Hildegard Müller in her position as President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry."

"EU countries delay vote on ICE phase-out
https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2...n-ice-phaseout
Published date: 03 March 2023
EU member states today delayed formal approval, planned for 7 March, of legislation that would effectively prohibit internal combustion engines (ICE) in new vehicles.
The provisional agenda for the EU's council of ministers had included adoption of revisions to a 2019 EU regulation that would set a 100pc CO2 cut for new passenger vehicles and vans from 2035. The revised regulation also aims to cut average emissions for new cars by 55pc and for new vans by 50pc by 2030.
Parliament formally adopted the revised regulation on 14 February, the same day as the European Commission proposed a CO2 reduction target of 90pc for heavy-duty vehicles from 2040, essentially all but a ban on new ICE trucks.
Postponement of the member states' vote on CO2 car standards, which would formalise agreement reached in October 2022 between parliament and EU countries, is a "disgrace" for Germany, said the country's green lawmaker Michael Bloss.
"We're causing chaos, making ourselves completely unbelievable and holding up climate protection," he said. The German greens are in coalition with chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left socialists. Also in the coalition are liberals, who are now pushing for Germany not to vote for the ICE phaseout agreement in the EU's council of ministers.
Bloss said Germany, Italy, Poland and Bulgaria could now block adoption of the amended regulation by preventing the qualified majority necessary for adoption.
Parliament's largest centre-right EPP political group called on EU states to vote against the ICE ban, which it said will prevent innovation, make new cars more expensive and lead to the decline of a core European industry. Its lead negotiator on CO2 car standards, Jens Gieseke, said its proposal of a crediting scheme for e-fuels is "exactly what is missing."
"It is positive that the vote will not take place next week," he said.
The commission said today it is discussing "more recent" concerns with member states to ensure a "careful" implementation of a non-binding recital to the CO2 standards. The recital states the commission could, if appropriate, make a proposal for registering, after 2035, vehicles running on CO2-neutral fuels.
Speaking last month during the parliament's debate on adoption of the CO2 standards, commission executive vice-president Frans Timmermans said the future of the European car industry is "not in combustion engines" but in electrification. An industry representative noted that Timmermans, in charge of energy and climate action, did not appear "serious" about following up on the non-binding recital in legislation.
"Non-fossil fuels should play a role," the source said.
Non-governmental group Transport & Environment (T&E) senior director Julia Poliscanova while e-fuels and sustainable bioethanol can be used to decarbonise, "truly sustainable advanced fuels are only available in small quantities."
"These car CO2 standards are about new technology and clearly the winner here is electric," she said, adding that championing the internal combustion engine would benefit the US and China that are "threatening to overtake Europe with massive investments in electric cars and batteries".
EU states are looking for a "more realistic" approach to transport decarbonisation, said European renewable ethanol association ePure's director general David Carpintero.
"Even beyond 2035 renewable liquid fuels should have a role," he said. "European renewable ethanol today saves an average of 77pc GHG emissions, compared to fossil fuel.""

Daniel Holmberg - Coreper I spokesperson - Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union:
(Coreper I = Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the European Union)

[Murf the Surf]

So maybe common sense will prevail.

[M5Rick]

This indeed is good news that will filter down to other countries including my stubborn one which has a 2030 date for blocking ICE cars.

[Murf the Surf]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

This indeed is good news that will filter down to other countries including my stubborn one which has a 2030 date for blocking ICE cars.

Canada has a 2035 date, I am afraid that our current government will just double down, my hope is for a change in government soon.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

Canada has a 2035 date, I am afraid that our current government will just double down, my hope is for a change in government soon.

Trud,deau isn't on my list of favourites also, I read Canada's cost of living is soaring with many new laws out of the blue being implemented.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

Canada has a 2035 date, I am afraid that our current government will just double down, my hope is for a change in government soon.

I really don't see the issue with this though. Why do you think it's a problem? That law will only affect consumer brand new cars/trucks.

It's not like this law is abolishing all gas vehicles out of our society which we still need to function.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

I really don't see the issue with this though. Why do you think it's a problem? That law will only affect consumer brand new cars/trucks.

It's not like this law is abolishing all gas vehicles out of our society which we still need to function.

The reality is it won't happen if it's not politically expedient anyway. People are getting their panties in a bunch for no reason. It will either be pushed back or enough exceptions carved out that it's reasonable.

[chad86tsi]

Originally Posted by chris719

The reality is it won't happen if it's not politically expedient anyway. People are getting their panties in a bunch for no reason. It will either be pushed back or enough exceptions carved out that it's reasonable.

Their panties are in a bunch because it's not reasonable. Make it reasonable and their won't be bunched panties to contend with.

[Anmufo]

The Audi CEO says he wants to safe the companys invest into its electric future. He warns the German government of a back and forth. So not everybody seems to be happy...

Spiegel report (German)

[G30M]

wow really. cool.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by Anmufo

The Audi CEO says he wants to safe the companys invest into its electric future. He warns the German government of a back and forth. So not everybody seems to be happy...

Spiegel report (German)

I'd be pissed too if I was running such a corporation. These companies have to spend dollars to do development on a technology they traditionally didn't or not much of to try to meet a pretty unrealistic deadline. The warning is to remind the political idiots that going back and forth will costs these companies money. Money that could have been spent in further ICE development to improve emissions performance or efficiency. These corporations have to plan years in advance for products in the future that have to be paid now.

Thenkfully if this idiocy is reversed now, the companies haven't spent too many years and money trying to meet an unrealistic mandate.

[chassis]

Market for tulip bulbs is softening?

[gonzo]

Well, not too long ago, Germany had a money tree farm.
After years of sophomoric decisions the farm is now on fire.
Maybe this is a sign of maturity returning to the boardroom.

Trickle to follow worldwide because it's just not viable. Emotion doesn't save shite.

[BGM-M3COMP]

False hope is bad for you lmao

[Anmufo]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

I'd be pissed too if I was running such a corporation. These companies have to spend dollars to do development on a technology they traditionally didn't or not much of to try to meet a pretty unrealistic deadline. The warning is to remind the political idiots that going back and forth will costs these companies money. Money that could have been spent in further ICE development to improve emissions performance or efficiency. These corporations have to plan years in advance for products in the future that have to be paid now.

Thenkfully if this idiocy is reversed now, the companies haven't spent too many years and money trying to meet an unrealistic mandate.

Audi actually plans to stop ICE sales (development even before) in 33, earlier than the governmental regulations demand.

Not sure what I should think about all of this. Especially in Germany everyone was convinced hydrogen cars would be the future a decade ago. Now all bigger companies go fully into EV development

[ASAP]

the whole thing is absolutely a joke at best

[G30M]

ok after reading - not sure if there's any point to rejoice. they are not reversing the ban. they just want the synthetic fuel wording added. petrol is still getting killed.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by g21

ok after reading - not sure if there's any point to rejoice. they are not reversing the ban. they just want the synthetic fuel wording added. petrol is still getting killed.

That's fine, we just want ICE to live on with certain models. I don't care how it's being powered.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by g21

ok after reading - not sure if there's any point to rejoice. they are not reversing the ban. they just want the synthetic fuel wording added. petrol is still getting killed.

It’s simply politics and maneuvering. Neither good nor bad. All parties want to maintain as much space on the chessboard to maneuver as reality unfolds. Raising a flag, or either real or potential objection, allows regulators to say, “See I told you so!” and pivot the regulatory regime accordingly. Completely normal.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

Canada has a 2035 date, I am afraid that our current government will just double down, my hope is for a change in government soon.

Canada has not banned ICE engines like the EU is proposing. I know I am a broken record but if PHEV's are included the 2035 target is doable for the manufacturers. The EU proposition DOES NOT include PHEV's, hence the opposition.

[Murf the Surf]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Canada has not banned ICE engines like the EU is proposing. I know I am a broken record but if PHEV's are included the 2035 target is doable for the manufacturers. The EU proposition DOES NOT include PHEV's, hence the opposition.

I'm afraid I don't trust the current government in Canada to act in a reasonable common sense fashion.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

I'm afraid I don't trust the current government in Canada to act in a reasonable common sense fashion.

Neither do i but as it is written right now, you won't see much arguing from manufacturers.