NGVA warns Brussels against "de-facto ban" on internal combustion engine

NGVA Europe, an association representing the interests of the continent's natural gas vehicle (NGV) industry, has urged the European Commission (EC) to recognise the contributions that renewable, sustainable fuels make towards decarbonising road transport.

The plea comes less than a fortnight after several hundred European scientists wrote to the EC to ask for a technology-neutral approach to decarbonising the transport sector.

The EC is due to present its Fit for 55 legislative package on July 14, in which it will propose changes to align various regulation with the EU's target of reducing CO₂ emissions by 55% by 2030. Among the measures, it is expected to propose tougher CO₂ standards and an emissions trading programme for road transport.

In a letter to the EC dated July 2, though, NGVA Europe told commissioners it was "increasingly urgent to recognise the contribution of renewable sustainable fuels in the vehicle CO₂ standard.

"This would support the scale-up of the production of low and net-zero carbon fuels, and allow the EU to enable climate neutral transport timely, socio-economically efficiently, and while leaving no one behind," NGVA Europe said. "This is particularly the case, as disregarding the fuels’ contribution, in addition to the vehicle CO₂ targets becoming more severe, would result in a de-facto technology ban on the internal combustion engine (ICE) that would be not just unjustifiable, but actively detrimental."

While electrification has a key role to play in decarbonising road transport, the association said it was also "becoming increasingly apparent that narrow technology mandates could hamper the transition through higher cost, and neglect of the additional CO₂ savings of renewable sustainable fuels."

The conversation about decarbonising road transport should shift from decarbonising the energy rather than the engine, noting that an ICE, when using renewable sustainable fuel, such as biogas, had a carbon footprint similar to that of an electric vehicle powered with renewable energy. Renewable sustainable fuels are also compatible with existing vehicles, logistic infrastructure and refuelling facilities, it said.

"A mere increase in the ambition of the vehicle CO₂ standard is not the right answer," NGVA Europe continued. "It requires instead moving the focus away from just tailpipe emissions towards a more holistic recognition of the climate contribution of the combination of energy and power-train technology."

The association suggested a voluntary crediting mechanism for renewable and sustainable fuels be introduced, which would create a regime of "technology open regulation" that complements the Fit-for-55 legislation. 

"Such a regime would not just ensure that we follow the most efficient and cost-effective pathways towards climate neutrality, but it would also maintain a level of consumer choice and access to mobility for all European citizens that is essential to our way of life," it said.

There have been calls to go as far as to ban the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars by 2035. A group of 27 companies including Volvo, Vattenfall and Uber called in April for the EC to set a CO₂ target for vehicle manufacturers at zero grams of CO₂/km by 2035, which would effectively achieve this end.

"Policies aimed at the untimely demise of ICE vehicles are likely to result in a significant share of European consumers being left behind," NGVA Europe said. "Millions of EU families and businesses, especially in central, eastern and southern European countries with typically older vehicle fleets, rely for work, leisure or personal life on older, inexpensive and often second-hand vehicles. Technology exclusions would substantially aggravate job losses in the automotive sector and hinder the employment transition in industry more broadly."

What is more, the potential job creation in the renewable fuels industry would be left untapped, the association said. "A more inclusive approach, valuing the contribution of all low-carbon technologies towards the climate ambition, is needed to respect the consumers' choice and their right to an affordable personal mobility."

The association said it was ready to work with the EC to establish an integrated strategy for renewable sustainable fuels, correcting vehicle CO₂ standards to focus on decarbonising energy rather than "prescribing a top-down technology mandate."

"Such an amendment can open the door to additional and more timely CO₂ savings, to jobs, to investments, and to a way for many more vehicle users to participate in using renewable energies, be they in gaseous, liquid, or electric form," it concluded.