Open letter calls on the European Commission to boost ethanol under Fuel Quality Directive
In Belgium, ePURE is among the signatories of an open letter calling on the European Commission to revise the Fuel Quality Directive to increase the current ethanol volume cap from 10% to 20% and raise the oxygen mass limit from 3.7% to 8.0%. The letter, signed by a range of sectors including biofuels, agriculture, automotive industry and fuel suppliers, follows a suggestion from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that higher biofuel blends can play an important role in decarbonizing the existing vehicle fleet.
The letter highlights the potential of E20, a petrol blend with up to 20% renewable ethanol, to further increase the use of renewable fuels in both new and existing petrol and petrol-hybrid light duty vehicles, with minimum recommendations on the changes required to the FQD to achieve this objective.
The EU sets a target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels) and aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. A total GHG emission reduction from road transport of 86% by 2040 (vs. 2015 levels) is outlined in the Commission’s 2040 Climate Target Impact Assessment which recommends an approximate economy-wide GHG reduction of 90%.
To achieve this, CO2 emissions must be reduced from both new and existing vehicles on EU roads. While the Commission is preparing a revision of the CO2 emission standards for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles the current framework focuses primarily on reducing emissions from the new fleet sales through increased electrification. At the same time, there is an important opportunity to complement this effort by addressing the continued and significant presence of internal combustion engine vehicles in the European fleet.
Category: Policy
