Road freight transport: Switzerland decides to recognize eFuels

The Swiss National Council and Parliament recently passed with a large majority the recognition of synthetic fuels in new vehicles on the road. According to the eFuel Alliance, this decision is part of the revised CO2 law, which is intended to serve as the basis for Switzerland's net-zero target by 2050 and a secure energy supply.

Switzerland aims to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. As in other European countries, the transport sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland and is lagging behind other sectors from a climate perspective. By making eFuels eligible, an additional option for climate-friendly drives, alongside electrification, is to be made available.

"The Swiss are setting a milestone with this decision. By making eFuels eligible in road traffic, a rethinking of the cemented tailpipe approach is finally being achieved. This is a decisive turning point for truly effective climate protection, even though the decision excludes advanced biofuels," praises Ralf Diemer, Managing Director of the eFuel Alliance, regarding the decision.

The climate-friendliness of a vehicle has so far been determined by its exhaust (tailpipe approach). Thus, only the drives that emit no CO2 during operation are considered climate-friendly. A vehicle is therefore not rated as climate-friendly even if it uses 100 percent climate-neutral fuels. In contrast, an electric vehicle is always rated as a zero-emission vehicle if it is charged with 100 percent fossil electricity, criticizes the eFuel Alliance in its press release. Emissions that occur in the upstream chain are not taken into account.

Switzerland is changing this with the inclusion of synthetic fuels. The decision should be implemented this year. The so-called crediting system is recommended. This system allows importers and manufacturers of vehicles to take into account the CO2 emissions saved by using eFuels when calculating fleet limits. A verification system shows how much eFuels have been brought to market by fuel manufacturers.