EU bends to Germany’s demands, proposes separate e-fuels category in 2035 combustion ban
According to a draft proposal recently seen by the media, the European Commission has reportedly added an amendment to its 2035 combustion vehicle ban that allows for the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles after the expiry, as long as they run entirely on climate-neutral e-fuels. This move is the latest chapter in a saga to ban ICE vehicles in the EU that has recently been stifled by countries insisting on the additional e-fuel exceptions, led by automotive juggernaut, Germany.
March has been a busy and newsworthy month for the EU Commission and its ongoing quest to enact a complete ban on combustion vehicles by 2035. Throughout 2022, European Parliament, the commission, and EU members had been working through months of negotiations before finally agreeing to implement a law that would ban the sale of new combustion vehicles throughout the EU by 2035.
By last October, the ban had actually been approved by the EU’s 27 member states, including Germany. However, as the EU prepared for its final vote earlier this month, a mere formality in the legal process, Germany and its transport minister, Volker Wissing, suddenly had a change of heart, rescinding the country’s vote of confidence until further changes pertaining to e-fuels were established.
This surprising reversal sent the EU scrambling as Germany’s vote is vital to the 2035 ban’s implementation. German automakers like Porsche suddenly spoke out against the ban in its current iteration, demanding that additional exceptions be added for combustion vehicles running on carbon-neutral e-fuels.
Mere weeks after publicly declaring its distaste for the 2035 ban without e-fuel exceptions, Germany gained several EU allies, including Italy, the Czech Republic, and Poland. According to a recent report, the EU appears to be bowing to the wishes of its vocal member states and has drafted a revised proposal to the 2035 combustion ban to appease them. Here’s the latest.
2035 combustion ban may include new category for e-fuels
According to an exclusive report from Reuters, its team has gotten eyes on a drafted proposal that would include exceptions for the sale of combustion vehicles after the 2035 ban, as long as they run entirely on e-fuels and not gasoline or diesel.
To truly prevent any and all usage of carbon-emitting fuels in new vehicles after the ban, the draft states that e-fuel cars would be required to come equipped with technology that would prevent them from operating if any other fuels are used.
Two sources familiar with the discussions between the EU Commission and Germany state that the revised proposal suggesting new combustion vehicles must be able to distinguish between carbon-neutral and traditional fuels remains a problematic situation because automakers will need to develop new engines to do so.
Germany’s Transport Ministry said it is in contact with the commission to reach a solution. Although the transport minister and face of Germany’s deviation from the 2035 ban, Volker Wissing, does not support the EU’s proposed amendments for e-fuels, he is not completely rejecting it. Sources say Wissing instead intends to make improvements to it in hopes of securing an agreement that appeases all member states before this Thursday’s EU summit.
Good or bad, we are sure to hear more later this week as talks continue. Check back soon.
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Tesla is starting to experience some consequences for misleading Full Self Driving customers – at least that’s the finding of one arbitration ruling that has Tesla refunding one customer $10,000 plus legal fees for failing to deliver on their promises. Find out more on today’s legally challenging episode of Quick Charge!
An arbitration “court” found that Tesla misled customers with its Full Self Driving product, and has now been forced to refund at least one person’s $10,000 payment (plus legal fees) for the not-quite autonomous driving software. France, too, is piling on claims of deceptive business practices – but there’s some good news for FSD fans! If you’re still willing to pay for it, Tesla will thrown in 0% financing on a brand new Cybertruck.
Check out the relevant links, below, to learn more.
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Toyota’s new electric SUV is a surprise hit in China. Starting at just $15,000, the Toyota bZ3X is already the top-selling joint venture brand EV.
The $15,000 Toyota bZ3X is the top-selling foreign EV
After launching the bZ3X in March, Toyota’s joint venture, GAC Toyota, claimed that orders were “so popular that the server crashed.” It apparently secured over 10,000 orders in the first hour.
In its second month on the market, the bZ3X was the top-selling foreign-owned vehicle in China, beating out the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 Crozz, Nissan N7, and BMW i3.
According to the latest update, the electric SUV retained the title once again in June. Peng Baolin, General Manager of Sales at GAC-Toyota, revealed on social media that the “delivery volume of Bozhi 3X in June reached 6,030 units.”
GAC Toyota announced on Weibo that cumulative deliveries have now exceeded 20,000 units, setting a new record for the fastest joint venture electric SUV sales to achieve the feat.
The company also claimed that the bZ3X “has the highest sales of new energy vehicles” among joint venture brands right now.
The bZ3X is Toyota’s “first 100,000 yuan-level pure electric SUV.” It’s available in seven different trims, starting at 109,800 yuan, or about $15,000.
Two variants have an added LiDAR, making Toyota the first joint venture brand to offer it in China. The smart driving version starts at 149,800 yuan ($20,500). For 159,800 yuan ($22,000), you can upgrade to the range-topping “610 Max” trim.
Powered by a 67.92 kWh battery, the long-range model is rated with a CLTC range of up to 610 km (379 miles). The base “Air” trim features a 50.03 kWh battery, good for a 430 km (267 miles) range.
The bZ3X measures 4,645 mm in length, 1,885 mm in width, and 1,625 mm in height, or about the size of BYD’s popular Yuan Plus (sold overseas as the Atto 3).
Inside is a significant upgrade from most Toyota models we are used to seeing. It features a tech-focused interior with a 12.3″ infotainment screen and an 8.8″ driver display.
Toyota markets it as an affordable family SUV with “a mobile space that is as comfortable as home.” With all the seats folded, the interior offers nearly 10 feet (3 meters) of space.
It’s also powered by Momenta’s 5.0 smart driving system, offering advanced smart driving features such as Level 2 assisted driving, remote parking, and more.
Electrek’s Take
Although it may not seem like much with Chinese EV makers like Xiaomi securing nearly 300,000 orders for the YU7 SUV in an hour, the bZ3X is selling surprisingly well for a foreign brand vehicle.
Global automakers are struggling to keep pace in China with an influx of new low-cost domestic EVs and an intensifying price war. However, Japanese automakers, including Toyota, have been some of the hardest hit.
During GAC Toyota’s Tech Day event last month, the company announced partnerships with China’s leading tech companies, including Huawei, Xiaomi, and Momenta, as it seeks to regain market share.
Ahead of the event, the company posted on Weibo that “god-level allies are coming to help,” adding “car industry bigwigs are coming.
Through May, Toyota’s sales in China are up 7.7% from the same period last year, with 530,000 vehicles sold. Will Toyota continue gaining traction in the world’s largest EV market? With the bZ5 now rolling out and several new models on the way, Toyota is looking for a comeback.
Source: Sohu, GAC-Toyota
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