Commission proposal on e-fuels

Subject: Commission proposal on e-fuels

On 14 February 2023, the European Parliament adopted its position on amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 as regards strengthening CO2emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles (2021/0197(COD)). Internal combustion engines are to be banned from 2035. The possibility of using e-fuels to power internal combustion engines is contemplated in a recital.

However, the Commission has not yet presented a proposal on how vehicles powered by e-fuels can be authorised after 2035 (provided that the regulation is amended as planned).

1. Is the Commission planning to present such a proposal?

2. If so, a) since when, and b) when does it plan to present this proposal?

Submitted: 2.3.2023

Answer given by Executive Vice-President Timmermans on behalf of the European Commission (22 June 2023)

The Commission is committed to a technologically neutral climate regulation in particular with respect to the regulation of CO2 emission standards for cars and light duty vehicles.

The Commission acknowledges and confirms the decision of the European Parliament and the Council to include Recital 11 in the agreed compromise text of the revision of the regulation setting CO2 emission performance standards for new cars and vans (1). The Commission will take this recital as a starting point for respective legislative initiatives.

As a first step, immediately upon the adoption of the regulation by the European Parliament and by the Council, the Commission submits an Implementing Regulation for type approvals of these vehicles, thereby setting up a robust and evasion-proof type approval process for vehicles that are fuelled exclusively, in a permanent manner, with RFNBOs (2).

The Commission will work for swift proceedings within the Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles (TCMV) and devote itself within the legal framework to a successful finalisation of the decision process.

The Commission also will work without delay on the further implementation of Recital 11. Following the consultation of stakeholders, the Commission also will propose in line with the legal empowerment in autumn 2023, a Delegated Act specifying how E-Fuels-only vehicles would contribute to the CO2 emission reduction targets, in relation to the regulation of CO2 emission standards for cars and light duty vehicles. In the case the co-legislators reject the proposal, the Commission will follow another legislative path such as a revision of the CO2-regulation to at least implement the legal content of the Delegated Act.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32023R0851

2 ∙ ⸱ Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin.