Internal combustion ban relaxed

Revised rules from Brussels at the behest of the German Transport Secretary have given internal combustion a stay of execution. The 2035 deadline for final sales had now been relaxed on the understanding that engines produced after this date can accept environmentally friendly e-fuels, often made from waste materials, and will be fitted with fuel detection technology to ensure that the agreement is kept to.

Specifically, this will require the creation of an e-fuel-only category of car, which is likely to be exempted from the existing 2035 mandate for zero-emission only vehicles. While not a complete lifting of the proposed legislation, it does offer hope that internal combustion may continue and support for classic vehicles will not be compromised in a world that is geared toward electric propulsion.

It is believed that the proposed amendments will lead to greater e-fuel investment, which will have benefits for the classic car community. In the UK, the HVCA is already working with biofuels generated from waste products to demonstrate that sustainable fuels exist for the classic market – and unlike E5 unleaded, these will have no detrimental effect upon our cars.