Motorists of Europe, let's toast, because Brussels "has chosen champagne petrol". It's from Mr Gerrit Marx, CEO of Iveco, the most caustic judgment on the European decision to promote fuels e fuel as the only exception to the ban on the sale from 2035 of cars with traditional engines in the Old Continent.
E-fuels: Saudi Arabia aims for leadership
“Of course – explains the CEO of the Exor subsidiary – if you drive a Ferrari or a Porsche you don't worry if a liter of petrol will cost 5 or 10 euros. But a solution to mobility problems cannot go through this solution”. Also because “do you know who aims to become a leader in this sector? L'Saudi Arabia. In short, we are not making any progress in terms of energy dependence”.
An all-round rejection of the choices of the Council which, in banning the sale of cars with combustion engines from 2035, made an exception for thee fuel, dear to German industry. An expensive solution, little more than experimental: it starts from theelectrolysis (split between hydrogen and oxygen) to then withdraw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. CO2, combined with hydrogen produces e-methanol, a product without emissions, with two advantages: zero net emissions, total absence of sulfur and nitrogen dioxide.
E-fuels: Porsche experiments with Enel in Chile
An expensive procedure which, over time, will serve to enrich the overall offer of Made in Germany, a leader in the electric sector but determined to cover all segments of the market. With the contribution of a touch of made in Italy provided by Enel. For the development of e-fuel, together with other synthetic fuels, Porsche has focused on Punta Arenas in the extreme strip of Chilean land before the Strait of Magellan. There Enel it can count on nine wind energy plants plus a strong presence in solar and photovoltaics. In all 45% of the South American country's renewable energy, a treasure that proved to be decisive for this “fuel for the rich” to take off.
Italy is currently out of the EU agreement
In short, ironically there is a touch of Made in Italy in the development of e-fuel imposed by Germany in the EU to the detriment of the solution which, with far more concrete results for now, is working EniI biofuels which, Italy hopes, could still be included in the list of permitted fuels because they are CO2 neutral. There are margins, according to Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, for an insertion in extremis. But beyond the political alchemies and regulatory constraints, Europe on four wheels is destined to change profoundly after Tuesday's vote of the EU Council. And the wheel does not seem to turn in the direction desired by the Bel Paese.
EU stop on internal combustion engines: the position of Iveco, Ferrari, Stellantis
The streets of Europe risk resembling those of Cuba, thunders Marx of Iveco. “Electric cars – he predicts – risk costing too much for ordinary people. And so people will hold on to the old cars, a bit like what happens in Havana”. It applies to cars, it will soon also apply to trucks waiting for hydrogen, the only way to ensure emission levels such as to guarantee a real decarbonisation of transport”. It will take time for the transition from gas engines to hydrogen engines to be "demanding but possible", assures the manager from his office in Turin.
Marx's thought, very critical of the EU ("Brussels' decisions are the result of competition between the various offices that proceed in no particular order more due to prejudices than organic solutions"), however, does not reflect all the moods of Exor. In fact, it is quite different, as is understandable, the judgment of Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari. “The solution chosen by the EU guarantees us greater freedom of choice”. In other words, the Ferrari will be able to combine electric cars (which still involve considerable technical problems to guarantee the sporty driving style dear to Ferrari or Porsche aficionados) with ultra-luxury clean engines. But which Ferrari driver will complain about a 2 euro tank?
What is the thought in the house stellantis? Carlos Tavares at the time of him had fiery words against the electric-only turn. But for some time the group has aligned itself with the prevailing choices, with a massive program of electricity investments both in Europe and in the USA. And not only that, given the decision to produce the electric 500 in Algeria. It doesn't take long to understand that Stellantis, much more French than Italian in governance, has decided to marry the choice of Paris in support of electric breakthrough without conditions rather than the Italian resistances.
THEabsence of a large national producer in short, it reduces the impact force of the Italian automotive sector compared to France and Germany, more than ever leaders in car choices. And Italy can only play as a throw-in. Exploiting the treasures of the Modena Valley, Ferrari and Lamborghini (Volkswagen team).
