Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume has declared himself in favor of synthetic fuels, while acknowledging a major drawback. Despite this, Blume believes that the future of the automotive industry lies in electric mobility from 2035.
The debate on the future of the automobile in Europe
In recent years, the European Union has been debating an important decision that will affect the future of the automotive industry:
Probable ban on the sale of new combustion cars in Europe from 2035
A medium-term objective that will definitively change our use of private vehicles
Many important figures in the automotive sector have spoken out on the subject.
Synthetic fuels as an intermediate solution
Faced with the possible ban on combustion cars from 2035, many stakeholders are calling for intermediate solutions:
Synthetic fuels could help decarbonise Europe's existing vehicle fleet
They could be used to power diesel and petrol cars currently on the road
Oliver Blume's Position on Synthetic Fuels
In an interview with German media outlet Welt am Sonntag, Oliver Blume expressed his support for e-fuels despite one major drawback:
“The amount of synthetic fuel available already precludes its use in a wide range of vehicles”
The limited production of this alternative fuel restricts its use to very few vehicles
Another obstacle is the high selling price, due to high production costs.
However, Blume believes that:
“If this material is produced on a large scale, an attractive price level can be achieved and taxes can also be controlled.”
Synthetic fuels could “do something immediately for climate protection”, especially for existing vehicles
The primacy of electric mobility
Despite his support for synthetic fuels, Blume claims that:
From a technological and environmental protection point of view, the direction is clearly oriented towards electric mobility.
“Binding legislation clearly moving in the direction of electromobility” is necessary
It supports the European Union's position on electric mobility in 2035, while including other technologies
The advantages of electric mobility according to Blume
Volkswagen CEO highlights the advantages of electric mobility:
“This technology is far superior to that of the internal combustion engine”
It “makes a significant contribution to climate protection”
Blume calls for greater support from Europe, especially in the charging network and renewable energy sources
Oliver Blume's position reflects the complexity of the energy transition in the automotive sector. While acknowledging the potential of synthetic fuels, he clearly states that the long-term future belongs to electric mobility, in line with the environmental objectives of the European Union.