Ban on new ICE-powered vehicles is wrong: BMW CEO

Ban on new ICE-powered vehicles is wrong: BMW CEO

Chief executive officer of BMW, Oliver Zipse has said that the plan by the European Union to ban sales of new combustion-engined cars from 2035 is the wrong approach, and has called for the expediting of e-fuels roll-out, reported Autocar.

Current legislation in the European Union will see the banning of new ICE-powered car sales, unless they are run solely on carbon-neutral fuels such as e-fuels. Zipse has called for the European Commission to accelerate the viability of e-fuels in order to make their use practical by 2035, or else legislation in the region “would be a deliberate ban on combustion engines through the back door,” he said.

This is a “bogus solution”, said Zipse, adding that “a [categorical] ban on combustion engines in 2035 is the wrong approach.” However, the production of e-fuels demands a substantial amount of energy as its requires ‘green’ hydrogen, which is made by electrolysing water by using renewable electricity.

Ban on new ICE-powered vehicles is wrong: BMW CEO

HIF Global Haru Oni eFuels pilot plant, Punta Arenas, Chile

However, a 2019 report by the International Energy Agency stated that producing all of today’s industrial hydrogen output from electricity would create an electricity demand of 3,600TWh, or 1,000 TWh more than the entire EU’s energy production in 2022, when just 39.4% came from renewables. This figure was only to match today’s hydrogen output, and not the surplus required to mass-industrialise e-fuels, according to Autocar.

Brand compatriot Porsche has invested US$75 million in carbon-neutral fuels producer HIF Global to jointly develop production of e-fuels, and the sports car maker has deployed bio-based renewable fuel for the Porsche Supercup one-make racing series.

Separately, Ferrari has also voiced support for carbon-neutral fuels, as Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna has said that “there is still a viable way forward for ICE cars.”

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • TinKosong on Aug 13, 2024 at 11:00 am

    Sooner or later IEC cars only available for Asian market…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • EV is a scam

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2
    • Mike Tee on Aug 15, 2024 at 11:08 am

      We will see. Can only say I have been using one (not Tesla) for >2 years here in Malaysia and I am very happy. Spoke to HK friends who had their Teslas for more than 10 years who are happy with their choice also

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Proton Oh Proton on Aug 13, 2024 at 11:03 am

    did EU know how they mining rare earth for the EV battery? Believe me next will be drinking water pollution.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Mike Tee on Aug 15, 2024 at 11:10 am

      Oil exploration/extraction/delivery is also polluting and 0% renewable

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Lucifael Michael Raphael on Aug 13, 2024 at 1:23 pm

    dejavu similar to nokia mobile not prepared clueless onslaught from blackberry and iphone…..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • EV Car Mafia on Aug 13, 2024 at 7:00 pm

    Did he just wake up? Lol

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ROTI CANAI on Aug 13, 2024 at 8:44 pm

    Lol when your ev cars are crap then you say this. Truth be told your ice cars nowadays are quite crap also.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
 

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