17/07/2024 (Agence Europe) – 2035 will not mark the end of cars running on e-fuels, according to Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, French) when he spoke at a press briefing at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday 16 July. According to the former Chair of the ENVI Committee, a balance must be found regarding Regulation 2019/631 of 19 April 2023, which bans the sale of new combustion engine vehicles from 2035. The aim is to “introduce the production of e-fuel in the name of a principle of technological democracy”. At “€6 a litre before tax”, e-fuel would be a question of “political neutrality” rather than industrial viability. A last-minute U-turn by Berlin, which made its support for the regulation conditional upon the authorisation of e-fuels, had already come close to preventing it being adopted in 2023 (see EUROPE 13148/6). Germany was unsuccessful, but is continuing to push for this with the support of the EPP. (FS)