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T&E Analysis of E-Fuels: Five Times the CO2 Emissions Compared to Electric Vehicles

According to the definition of the FDP politician, e-fuels would result in five times higher CO2 emissions compared to electric vehicles, the organization calculates. The EU should not give in to pressure from Germany to allow e-fuels to be counted, the NGO demands. E-fuels also emit nitrogen oxides and particulates like conventional combustion engines.

Not entirely clean: E-fuel advocates consider the propulsion system to be climate-neutral. However, CO2 emissions are significantly higher than those of electric cars - and the usual air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particles remain. | Photo: ADAC
Not entirely clean: E-fuel advocates consider the propulsion system to be climate-neutral. However, CO2 emissions are significantly higher than those of electric cars - and the usual air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particles remain. | Photo: ADAC
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Johannes Reichel

If the EU gives in to the demands of Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing and weakens the criteria for climate-neutral synthetic fuels, cars powered by E-Fuels would emit almost five times as much CO₂ as electric cars. This is shown by new calculations from the European environmental umbrella organization Transport & Environment (T&E). According to EU plans, all new cars sold in the EU from 2035 onwards must emit no more CO₂ emissions. Therefore, according to the EU Commission, only 100 percent climate-neutral E-Fuels can qualify for the exemption rule. In contrast, German Transport Minister Volker Wissing and some industry groups are insisting on weakening this criterion. Wissing advocates for 70 percent CO₂ neutrality.

The organization examined the "well-to-wheel" CO₂ emissions of E-Fuels calculated. These are the total emissions that occur during the production, distribution, and use of the synthetic fuel. The analysis shows that in 2035, cars powered by E-Fuels would emit 61 grams of CO₂ equivalent per kilometer (CO₂e/km) if Wissing's demand for weakened criteria within the EU Renewable Energy Directive is met. In contrast, electric cars would only emit 13g CO₂e/km if charged with electricity from the average EU grid from 2035. To be completely CO₂ neutral, E-Fuels would need to be produced with renewable energies and CO₂ extracted from the atmosphere to offset the carbon dioxide released when the fuel is burned in an engine.

“Our Transport Minister Wissing should finally accept that climate neutrality is indispensable for the EU Commission and that weakening the criteria for E-Fuels contradicts this principle. At the same time, it is surprising that the E-Fuels lobby has been telling us for years how clean their fuels are but now cannot meet the intended criteria," explained Friederike Piper, E-Mobility Expert at T&E Germany.

    Air pollutants: The nitrogen oxides and particles remain

    Even if e-fuels were produced CO₂-neutral according to the Commission's plan, they would still emit air pollutants during combustion in internal combustion engines, especially toxic nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and carcinogenic particles. T&E tests have shown that cars running on e-fuels emit as much nitrogen oxides (NOx) as cars running on fossil fuels (about 22 mg/km) and much more carbon monoxide and ammonia, which does nothing to improve air quality in our cities. At the same time, manufacturing e-fuels is expensive. Drivers would therefore pay far more for tankfuls of synthetic gasoline than for running an electric car or using fossil gasoline. Additionally, the production of e-fuels is far less efficient than running electric cars. Even if only a small fraction of all new cars were run on e-fuels instead of being electrified, Europe would need to generate significantly more renewable electricity. A final decision by EU governments on the criteria is expected by the end of the year. Currently, the Commission has asked member states for feedback on their proposal to only allow 100 percent climate-neutral e-fuels for new cars from 2035 onwards.

    The T&E analysis is based on the following assumptions:

    • Conventional internal combustion car: A C-segment vehicle sold in 2035, running on conventional gasoline and emitting 94 gCO2eq/MJ. 
    • E-fuels car: The same vehicle running on e-fuels, with a CO reduction of 70 percent compared to conventional gasoline according to the EU Renewable Energy Directive's RFNBO method. The emission reduction in the "well-to-wheel" emissions of e-fuels is achieved through carbon capture.
    • Electric car: C-segment BEV, average carbon intensity of the European grid.
    Translated automatically from German.
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