Internal Combustion Engine
The 2035 ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines is often criticized as a misguided decision. A central argument is the lack of technological openness. Critics of the ban point out that the exclusive focus on electromobility ignores other promising alternatives such as synthetic fuels (e-fuels) or hydrogen technologies. For example, e-fuels could represent a climate-friendly solution for existing vehicles, thereby having a much greater impact than the sole transition to electric cars. Furthermore, the production of e-fuels is generally carbon-neutral, as carbon dioxide is extracted from the atmosphere during their production. A technology-agnostic approach would enable engineers and the industry to develop the most efficient and sustainable solutions instead of being limited to a single, politically mandated option.
Another crucial point of criticism is the dependency on global supply chains and scarce resources. The production of batteries for electric vehicles requires a large amount of critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These raw materials are often mined under environmentally damaging and ethically questionable conditions, and the supply chains are dominated by a few countries. A one-sided focus on electromobility could therefore lead to new geopolitical dependencies and bottlenecks. In addition, the energy supply for widespread e-mobility is not yet sufficiently secured in many countries. A too-rapid transition could overload the power grid and lead to a greater need for electricity from fossil fuels, which would undermine the desired climate goals.
The German head of Mercedes, Ola Källenius, has also been critical of the rigid focus on the combustion engine ban. He advocates for a reassessment of the decision to strengthen technological openness again. Källenius emphasizes that the internal combustion engine could be operated in a climate-neutral way through the use of synthetic fuels and would thus represent an attractive alternative to pure e-mobility. He argues that a technology-agnostic policy would enable manufacturers to develop innovative solutions and find the best ways to decarbonize transport. From his perspective, the combustion engine ban is an unnecessary restriction that weakens the innovative power of the European automotive industry and jeopardizes its competitiveness against other markets. He suggests that politicians should re-evaluate the situation to ensure that the best and most efficient technologies for reducing CO2 emissions are used.
Internal Combustion Engine
The 2035 ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines is often criticized as a misguided decision. A central argument is the lack of technological openness. Critics of the ban point out that the exclusive focus on electromobility ignores other promising alternatives such as synthetic fuels (e-fuels) or hydrogen technologies. For example, e-fuels could represent a climate-friendly solution for existing vehicles, thereby having a much greater impact than the sole transition to electric cars. Furthermore, the production of e-fuels is generally carbon-neutral, as carbon dioxide is extracted from the atmosphere during their production. A technology-agnostic approach would enable engineers and the industry to develop the most efficient and sustainable solutions instead of being limited to a single, politically mandated option.
Another crucial point of criticism is the dependency on global supply chains and scarce resources. The production of batteries for electric vehicles requires a large amount of critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These raw materials are often mined under environmentally damaging and ethically questionable conditions, and the supply chains are dominated by a few countries. A one-sided focus on electromobility could therefore lead to new geopolitical dependencies and bottlenecks. In addition, the energy supply for widespread e-mobility is not yet sufficiently secured in many countries. A too-rapid transition could overload the power grid and lead to a greater need for electricity from fossil fuels, which would undermine the desired climate goals.
The German head of Mercedes, Ola Källenius, has also been critical of the rigid focus on the combustion engine ban. He advocates for a reassessment of the decision to strengthen technological openness again. Källenius emphasizes that the internal combustion engine could be operated in a climate-neutral way through the use of synthetic fuels and would thus represent an attractive alternative to pure e-mobility. He argues that a technology-agnostic policy would enable manufacturers to develop innovative solutions and find the best ways to decarbonize transport. From his perspective, the combustion engine ban is an unnecessary restriction that weakens the innovative power of the European automotive industry and jeopardizes its competitiveness against other markets. He suggests that politicians should re-evaluate the situation to ensure that the best and most efficient technologies for reducing CO2 emissions are used.