Germany Threatens to Hold Up EU Combustion Engine Ban

Germany's transport minister says his country cannot support a planned European Union ban on new cars with combustion¹ engines until the proposal is changed.

Minister Volker Wissing is seeking to have language added to the proposal that would permit sales of new combustion engines that run on cleaner burning synthetic² fuels.

Wissing said synthetic fuels can be produced using renewable energy and carbon captures from the air. Supporters of such fuels say they would not release any further climate-changing pollution, or emissions³, into the atmosphere.

EU lawmakers and member states reached an early deal last year to force carmakers to reduce new vehicle emissions by 55 percent in 2030 compared to 2021 levels. The plan calls for a 100 percent reduction in 2035.

The proposal effectively means the sale of new cars burning hydrocarbon-based fuels, such as petroleum⁴, would be banned.

But some countries, including Germany, had asked the EU's executive Commission to come up with an exemption⁵ for cars that burn synthetics⁶. Wissing has said the EU Commission should propose a new rule permitting combustion engines to be registered after 2035 if they can prove they run on synthetic fuels.

Critics say battery-electric technology is a better fit for passenger cars. They have suggested that valuable synthetic fuels should be used only in cases where no other possibility exists, such as with airplanes.

Benjamin Stephan of environmental group Greenpeace says studies show the same amount of electricity will take a battery-powered vehicle five times further than a car-powered by synthetic fuels.

Stephan said he does not think such synthetic fuels will play an important part for passenger vehicles. He urged Germany's automotive industry to instead invest in electronic vehicles.

Words in This Story

combustion engine – n. an engine that produces energy by burning fuel within itself

synthetic – adj. a group of products made from artificial substances, often copying a natural product

1 combustion   

n.燃烧；氧化；骚动

参考例句：

• We might be tempted to think of combustion.我们也许会联想到氧化。
• The smoke formed by their combustion is negligible.由它燃烧所生成的烟是可忽略的。

2 synthetic   

adj.合成的，人工的；综合的；n.人工制品

参考例句：

• We felt the salesman's synthetic friendliness.我们感觉到那位销售员的虚情假意。
• It's a synthetic diamond.这是人造钻石。

3 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

4 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

5 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

6 synthetics   

n.化学合成物

参考例句：

• cotton fabrics and synthetics 棉织物与合成织物
• It is a universally applicable thickener for printing on the synthetics. 特别适合用做纺织印染工业中人造合成纤维的印染增稠剂。