Is 12 years to switch the entire automotive sector to electromobility a long or short time, considering both the currently available green technologies and eco-innovations in electromobility, hydrogen-powered vehicles, zero-emission production of hydrogen and other e-fuels, development of zero-emission energy sources, high recycling rates of electric vehicles, etc.?
Is it possible to shift the whole of motorisation in Europe to electromobility by 2035, i.e. to implement the European Union's plan under which, after 2035, no new combustion-engine cars will be registered and put into service, and only zero-emission vehicles, i.e. electric and hydrogen vehicles, will be registered?
By 2035, will there be a significant drop in the price and increase in the uptake of e-fuels, i.e. synthetic fuels produced from water or hydrogen extracted from the air in a production process powered by renewable and emission-free energy sources?
The green transformation of the automotive industry is one of the key components of the green transformation of the economy, with the aim of building a sustainable, zero-emission, green closed loop economy as quickly and efficiently as possible. A key objective of the green economy transition is to slow down and possibly halt accelerating global warming and reduce the scale of the global climate catastrophe, which, according to long-term climate change models, could already occur by the end of this 21st century. The green transformation of motoring is primarily about the development of electromobility and hydrogen-powered vehicles through the application of available green technologies and eco-innovations in the development of electromobility, hydrogen-powered vehicles, zero-emission production of hydrogen and other e-fuels, the development of zero-emission energy sources, a high level of recycling of electric vehicles, and the activation of this process through the increase of government subsidy programmes within the framework of green finance, the introduction of tax credits to mobilise business for green investment projects, the introduction of new pro-climate and pro-environmental regulations, etc. In order to activate pro-environmental business processes and to activate operators to join the green transformation of the economy, specific calendars for the said green transformation processes of the economy are enacted, including the pro-climate and pro-environmental transformation of the car, rail, river, sea and air transport sectors. In many countries of the world, the rail transport sector is already 100 per cent or mostly converted to electromobility. Other segments of transport are mostly dominated by vehicles, ships, aircraft powered by internal combustion engines that burn high-emission fossil fuels. So there is still a lot of work to be done on the green transformation of the various transport sectors. In March 2023, the European Union Parliament adopted a plan to restrict the purchase of internal combustion cars after 2035 as an important motivating factor for the development of electromobility, i.e. the development of emission-free motoring. An evaluation of the development of electromobility in the European Union and an assessment of the feasibility of this plan is to be carried out in three years' time. The following exception was added to earlier drafts of this regulation: synthetic fuels produced from, for example, water or hydrogen extracted from the air on the basis of zero-emission production of these fuels, i.e. by using electricity generated from renewable and zero-emission energy sources in the hydrogen production process. Such solutions for the production of e-fuels and their use in powering motor vehicles will be permitted in the European Union after 2035. In the government-controlled meanstream media in the country where I operate, there has been the usual misinformation about the European Union's climate policy. Under the current plan, it will not be possible to register a car with an internal combustion engine powered by petroleum refining derivatives. Well, the possibility of buying and registering cars with combustion engines will not necessarily be prevented after 2035, because it will not be economically viable to buy a new car with such an engine after the restrictions have been introduced. According to current forecasts of electromobility development, it will not be economical to buy an internal combustion car after 2035, because after 2035 these types of vehicles will be the most expensive due to additional punitive charges that will be imposed by the state on car companies that still want to produce these types of internal combustion vehicles. There will be no restrictions or limitations for the purchase of vehicles powered by e-fuels, i.e. synthetic fuels whose combustion process will be emission-free. Technologies for the production of e-fuels based on water, hydrogen drawn from the atmosphere, the process of producing these e-fuels using electricity from large-scale renewable and emission-free energy sources already exist, but are expensive for the time being. But as there is still more than a decade to go until 2035, so there is enough time to adequately refine these technologies and make them widespread so that they become much cheaper. A rapid decline in the price of these new green e-fuel technologies over the next few years is possible. In the past, an analogous process has occurred for other green technologies. For example, the cost of photovoltaic technologies has fallen by almost 99 per cent in the three decades to 2019. In addition, the scale of restrictions on driving in certain public places, mainly in city centres for internal combustion vehicles, will increase in the coming years. Already, more and more cities are closing their city centres to combustion cars, starting with restrictions on this issue for cars powered by diesel and manufactured many years ago, as such cars are the most polluting and emit toxic chemicals, toxic especially to children.
In view of the above, I address the following question to the Honourable Community of scientists and researchers:
By 2035, will there be a significant decrease in the price and increase in the uptake of e-fuel technologies, i.e. synthetic fuels produced from water or hydrogen extracted from the air in a production process powered by renewable and emission-free energy sources?
Is it possible to switch the whole of European motorisation to electromobility by 2035, i.e. to realise the European Union's plan under which, after 2035, no new cars with combustion engines will be registered and put into service, and only zero-emission vehicles, i.e. electric and hydrogen vehicles, will be registered?
Is 12 years a long or short time to convert the whole of the automotive sector to electromobility, given both the green technologies and eco-innovations currently available in electromobility, hydrogen-powered vehicles, zero-emission production of hydrogen and other e-fuels, development of zero-emission energy sources, high recycling rates for electric vehicles, etc.?
What is your opinion on this topic?
What do you think about this subject?
Please respond,
I invite you all to discuss,
Thank you very much,
Best regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
converting to electro-mobility in 12 years is extremely optimistic. It will probably take at least 25 years - if ever
12 years to convert the entire automotive sector to electromobility is a short time obviously, but it is necessary though at such a time when climate change is a global concern. Yes! I agree that this duration is short yet this should be in 12 years also. But there is another point also waiting for description is that completely relying on electric mode wouldn't be a wise decision; as this impacts the Environment either. But if we go to hydrogen mode (Blue) that may work better.
Thank you. Dariusz Prokopowicz
If feasible, it's definitely a short period. Probably achievable for regulated or controlled transportation such as taxis and shuttles but long-distance travel may take a longer period to achieve because of low efficiency.
12 years could not be too long a time, considering the recent developments in the field of synthetic fuels from hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
I would rather point out the production of hydrogen. Hopefully by water hydrolysis, but requiring huge investments and time of realization.
Hydrogen can be more esily made by methane pyrolysis, by simple plants working on natural gas with no need of methane's separation.
The main drawback would be the loss of half methane's heating power.
But producing the energy required for water electrolysis would consume the same amount of natural gas, if energy were produced by power stations.
One critical point would be the disposal, or recovery of solid carbon, about half kg per cubic meter of methane. A big quantity, whose use should be considered, e.g. in the building field, and could be a source of eanings.
Until cheap energy from renewable enrgy sources will be available, natural gas pyrolysis would be the cheaper route for hydrogen (and synthetic fuels). But we should also consider methane for distribution networks, if synthetized by the Sabatier reaction with CO2 captured from atmosphere. A major fraction of total Co2 production comes today from house heating and energy production. Methane pyrolysis would cut drastically CO2 emissions.
Whether 12 years for the conversion of the entire automotive sector to electromobility is a long or short time, given both the currently available green technologies and eco-innovations in electromobility, hydrogen-powered vehicles, zero-emission production of hydrogen and other electric fuels, development of zero-emission energy sources, high recycling rates of electric vehicles, etc., depends on many factors. this depends on a number of factors, including financial support from the state finance system through subsidy programs given to buyers of electric or hydrogen cars, a system of tax credits given to auto-moto companies producing such vehicles, the development and implementation of new green technologies and eco-innovations in the recycling of used batteries and the disposal of unnecessary and hazardous waste to the environment.
And what is your opinion about it?
Please answer,
I invite everyone to join the discussion,
Thank you very much,
Best wishes,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
12 years is too short. There is resistance of the oil world to move to synthetic fuels, giving up profits from oil; and problems to develop an electrical network to supply electricity at high flux to cut times for battery recharging.
I am always insisting on hydrogen production by methane pyrolysis and methanol synthesis with recycle CO2. It is the best and fastest way.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Correction