A flexible approach on car emissions is a win-win for moving the EU beyond fossil fuels and building energy security
Why Europe should allow crop-based biofuels to continue contributing to transport decarbonisation
The agreement reached by France and Germany to push for a more pragmatic approach to reducing car emissions is an important recognition of the value of homegrown, sustainable fuels such as renewable ethanol to achieving EU transport decarbonisation goals.
Europe can’t afford to bet on just one technology for car and van engines after 2035. Success in decarbonising transport requires making the best use of all solutions that work, especially those that deliver immediate and affordable results. This includes sustainable biofuels such as ‘Made in Europe’ renewable ethanol.
With EU transport still overwhelmingly reliant on fossil fuels, there’s no time to waste waiting for other technologies to mature and new infrastructure to develop. Europe needs decarbonisation results now and renewable ethanol delivers them – 82% average GHG savings compared to fossil petrol.
The Franco-German agreement’s proposal to establish a new category of zero-emission vehicles running exclusively on eligible renewable and low-carbon fuels is an important step. However, this new category must explicitly recognise all RED-compliant renewable fuels and reward their verified climate benefits.
It is also unfortunate that the agreement does not preserve the dedicated renewable-fuel crediting mechanism for car manufacturers proposed by the European Commission. Such a mechanism could recognise the emissions reductions delivered by vehicles using RED-compliant renewable fuels and provide manufacturers with an immediate incentive to deploy solutions that can contribute to transport decarbonisation today.
To translate this political momentum into meaningful climate benefits, the revised CO₂ standards framework must recognise all Renewable Energy Directive-compliant fuels, including crop-based bioethanol, as eligible fuels.
Europe’s renewable ethanol producers look forward to working with the European Parliament and EU Member States as they finalise a revision of the CO2 for Cars Regulation that makes a real difference in fighting climate change and ending the EU’s dependence on foreign oil.
