Six European member states set to back-track on petrol ban!

Just a month after the EU effectively rubber-stamped the petrol ban, six European member states are back peddling in opposition to banning internal combustion cars and vans

Petrol-station-filling-bike
Petrol-station-filling-bike

JUST ten days after we reported that Germany, Poland and Bulgaria were in opposition to the petrol ban, today it is being reported that around six EU nations are now also in support of a so-called Plan B.

It is now reported that Italy, Czechia, Portugal and Austria are also against the far-reaching regulation change. The main argument from these nations is that there is not enough diversity in the proposals laid out, claiming that simply looking at one alternative to traditional petrol and diesel (battery power) is a blinkered view of the future of transport.

The regulation was due to be officially signed earlier this month after being voted on last month. That process has now been postponed as the EU parliament scrambles to find a solution.



The original article, written on March 10th, continues below.

THE proposed petrol and diesel ban, slated for 2035, could be under threat after a number of EU nations including Germany voiced opposition to the move.

Italy, Poland and Bulgaria are joining Germany, and have all opposed the move. Germany’s stance on the internal combustion engine might offer some hope for those that feel that electric power is not the only route to a more environmentally friendly future. While that might sound like petrol and diesel vehicle sales will now continue after 2035, that’s not totally the case, instead, the German government want another alternative to simply switching over to battery power.

Germany voices opposition to the 2035 petrol ban

petrol-station-filling-bike
petrol-station-filling-bike

Germany is asking for another route to be included in the proposed petrol ban, possibly something that could lead to ramped-up development of e-fuels and bio-fuels. Battery power is one option, but with the infrastructure in some nations (the UK included) nowhere near ready to accept total electric vehicle use, and the batteries used in the vehicles possibly not the greenest things to produce, e-fuel and bio-fuel do seem like a viable alternative.

Not just that, we already have a ready-to-go network of retail spaces up and down the country, that already sell, store, and deliver liquid fuel to customers. Switching those to more green alternative liquid fuels would help preserve those retail spaces and those working there. Add to that the fact that in some cases petrol and diesel-powered vehicles can simply be switched over to greener fuels (in many cases without any modifications to the vehicle) and looking for another route sounds like a very good thing indeed.

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