Mahle Blasts EU’s Anti-ICE Emissions Stance
Global automotive powertrain supplier, Mahle, has slammed the European Union Commission’s short-sighted hostility to ICE as an asset in reducing global warming.
The attack brings the auto technology group in line with other industry voices pleading for regulators to recognize that clean advanced ICE technology is vital in reducing green house gases in the short and medium terms. In a statement responding to the Commission’s powertrain strategy, Mahle said it does not maintain the balance which is required between environmental protection, technology and employment because the Commission has finally abandoned the approach of technology neutrality.
The Stuttgart headquartered automotive component supplier says it is committed to a technology-neutral triple blend for the future: electric drive systems, fuel cells and smart, sustainable internal combustion engines operated on non-fossil fuels. Under the Commission’s, CO2 emissions of vehicles will continue to be determined solely on the basis of exhaust emission measurements. A reduction of 55% by 2030 and 100% by 2035 is planned for passenger cars. On this basis, there will be no further involvement of sustainable alternatives, such as plug-in hybrids and non-fossil fuels, despite these having the potential to make a significant contribution to CO2 reduction or even carbon neutrality.
Also, on the basis used for calculation by the EU Commission, the target of carbon neutrality will lead to a steep rise in new vehicle registrations from less than 10% all-electric vehicles at the present day to 100% in 14 years. Such a rapid pace of transformation dictated by politicians would be unprecedented in the history of industry. It adds that the Commission’s proposals will constitute an intervention in global competitiveness and significantly impact industrial locations in Europe and especially Germany.
Michael Frick, CFO of the Mahle Group and chairman of the group board of management, said: “The prescription of specific technology is in contradiction with the principles of a free market and competition to which Mahle is committed. This approach will jeopardize value creation and, in the final resort, employment in Germany and Europe,”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
EU and the UK governments are looking no further than tailpipe emissions and are completely ignoring the effects of an all-electric automobile future on industry and the environmental damage caused by extra electricity generation by fossil fuel power plants and the mining of battery materials.