Platform reacts to the Clean Industrial Deal and the Automotive Action Plan
REACTIONS
Within the past two weeks, the European Commission unveiled its Clean Industrial Deal and its Automotive Industry Action Plan – two key moments for the development of electric mobility and its industries in Europe. In this newsletter, several leaders of the Platform for Electromobility wished to quickly react to the Commission’s announcements.
While these are initial reactions (not necessarily reflecting the views of all members) they highlight key priorities and concerns. In the coming weeks, the Platform will consolidate detailed reactions and recommendations after consulting all members. Overall, the risk associated with technological neutrality from 2035 in road transport raises significant concerns. We believe this could prove fatal for the future of the European automotive industry. Find out why here.
Platform 10
ON INVITATION ONLY
Platform 10
“Platform 10” brings together our members, friends, and policymakers to celebrate 10 years of the Platform for Electromobility and the midway point to 2035’s zero-emission mobility goal in Europe.
"Platform 10" brings together our members, friends, and policymakers to celebrate 10 years of the Platform for Electromobility and the midway point to 2035’s zero-emission mobility goal in Europe.
In 2015, leading EU transport industries, environmental activists, and civil society organizations united to champion electric mobility as the key to a sustainable, energy-efficient, and multimodal transport system. A decade later, the Platform for Electromobility stands at the heart of EU decision-making.
“Platform 10” is a friendly gathering, on invitation only, bringing together members, allies, and policymakers to celebrate this 10-year milestone and mark the halfway point to 2035, a pivotal year for zero-emission mobility in Europe. Join us to reflect on a decade of cross-sectoral cooperation and look ahead to the challenges and opportunities shaping the next ten years.
This special occasion marks 10 years since the creation of the Platform for Electromobility. Over the past decade, the Platform has played a key role in fostering dialogue, supporting policymakers, and helping to ensure that the shift to electromobility strengthens Europe’s industrial competitiveness, benefits citizens, and delivers environmental progress.
The dinner will also mark the symbolic start of the 10-year countdown to the phase-out of internal combustion engine vehicles in Europe by 2035. During the evening, we will share our vision for ensuring that zero-emission targets are achieved in a fair, competitive, multimodal, and sustainable way.
The evening will bring together high-level representatives from Platform member organisations, EU policymakers, key supporters, and leading experts in sustainable mobility. It will include a networking cocktail followed by a seated dinner, with keynote speeches from high-level policy-makers (tba)
Venue: Les Ateliers des Tanneurs
Located in the heart of Brussels between the Sablon, Place du Jeu de Balle and Brussels-Chapel train station, Les Ateliers des Tanneurs offer listed spaces in a beautiful Art Nouveau-style complex, a particularly interesting and original place for “Platform 10”!
Rue des Tanneurs 58-62
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Evening program
The evening will begin with a networking cocktail—an opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues and teamates, and forge new connections. A keynote speech by the Platform’s Chair, alongside high-level policymakers (TBA), will set the stage for the night. Guests will then enjoy a seated dinner, where exclusive new content will be unveiled between courses in a lively and engaging atmosphere.
18:30 – 22:00
Participants & Speakers
The evening is designed as a warm and inclusive gathering, bringing together the extended Platform for Electromobility community. Current and former members, past participants, and representatives of member organisations will come together alongside key allies and European policymakers. This special occasion will celebrate a decade of collaboration, reflect on shared achievements and necessary steps forward.
On invitation only.
Our input to the Strategic Dialogue for the Future of the Automotive Industry
Public Consultation
Ensuring a clear path to zero-emission mobility:
Our response to the Strategic Dialogue
The Platform for Electromobility reaffirms strong support for a clear and consistent regulatory framework guiding the environmental transition in transport. Recent political debates risk undermining the EU’s firm decision to phase out combustion engines by 2035, creating uncertainty that could jeopardize both the European automotive industry transition and the continent’s broader decarbonization objectives. Any deviation from the established trajectory would be a step backward, delaying investment and weakening Europe’s leadership in clean mobility.
The 2035 emission reduction targets provide essential certainty for manufacturers, investors, fleet owners, and infrastructure planners, ensuring that the necessary conditions for the large-scale deployment of electromobility are in place. Instead of revisiting settled decisions, efforts should focus on supporting the automotive sector in meeting its commitments, including by accelerating the deployment of charging infrastructure, creating demand-side measures, and securing access to critical raw materials.
As we advance towards zero-emission mobility, we remain concerned by attempts to divert focus and investment away from electrification towards unproven and inefficient alternatives, such as CO₂-neutral fuels (e-fuels) for road transport. This would not only delay the transition but also create additional costs for consumers and industry.
We reiterate our full support for the EU regulatory framework aimed at achieving 2035 zero-emission targets for cars and vans.
Concerning the inter-institutional agreement confirmed by recital 11 of the CO2 Standards Regulation on the introduction of synthetic fuels beyond this date, if there were to be any role for alternative fuels, it should be minimal and limited to vehicles running exclusively on 100% climate neutral RFNBOs.
To enable the transition to a decarbonised transport system, we emphasise the urgent need for a swift and ambitious implementation of the AFIR and the EPBD. Ensuring a timely and effective roll-out of a comprehensive charging ecosystem, encompassing public, private, and depot charging, is critical to supporting the increasing adoption of EVs. This requires not only the deployment of infrastructure in line with AFIR’s minimum targets but also a coordinated approach across Member States to remove administrative and financial barriers that could slow down progress.
Regarding demand, corporate fleets owners and operators are key players given their significant share of total vehicle sales and annual mileage. Establishing legally binding targets for fleet electrification would create market certainty, accelerate the uptake of zero-emission vehicles, and increase affordability by accelerating creation of second-hand market for EVs.
Stop diverging priorities, stop disrupting investments.
Supply & Industry
Recent political debate has raised the risk that the EU’s clear decision to phase out combustion engines in 2035 will once again be called into question. We believe this could prove fatal for the future of the European automotive industry.
In opposing this dangerous instability, the Platform for Electromobility is highlighting the importance of creating the enabling conditions to allow clean tech industries to prosper, notably in the transport sectors. Ultimately, this will help achieve the EU’s ambitious decarbonisation goals. As we advance towards zero-emission mobility, we are concerned by recent discussions surrounding the revision of the CO2 standards for cars and vans, which foresee introducing CO2-neutral fuels (such as e-fuels) into the post-2035 regulatory landscape.
This paper outlines the vital importance of supporting the ongoing progress towards the mass adoption of EVs and electromobility. It also highlights the risks of diverting the focus – and the vital investments required for electrification – towards the fictitious solution of e-fuels.
We therefore reiterate our full support for both the 2035 zero-emission targets for cars and vans and the inter-institutional agreement set out in a European Commission statement and confirmed by recital 11 of the CO2 Standards Regulation on the introduction of synthetic fuels beyond this date. If there were to be any role for alternative fuels, it should be minimal, and limited to vehicles running exclusively on 100% climate neutral RFNBOs.
1. Investment certainty for the electromobility ecosystem
Investment in the net-zero industrial ecosystem requires a clear, consistent and properly implemented regulatory framework. European transport industries are committed to, and are building, this ecosystem. EU auto manufacturers have committed around €250 billion to electrification by 2030, while 86 new electric vehicle models will be launched between 2024-26 (58 in segments A, B and C). The EV charging industry is already investing heavily in expanding both public and private charging infrastructure; and – with an average of €33 billion per year invested in our distribution grids over recent years – financing for utilities are continuing to grow to accompany the transition of the grid.
However, adding e-fuels to this regulatory framework will create investment uncertainty. This will ultimately deter stakeholders from fully committing to electric vehicle manufacturing and infrastructure roll-out. Given the combination of increasing competition from non EU countries, rising energy prices and a shortage of qualified EU workers, it is ever-more crucial to focus EU investments on electric vehicles to reach critical mass and help the EU remain globally competitive. A stable regulatory environment remains essential for maintaining Europe’s leadership in sustainable transport and ensuring that investments are directed towards proven, scalable technologies rather than nascent ones such as e-fuels.
2. Strategic prioritisation of proven, sustainable technologies
With limited resources, Europe must prioritise its investments in the technologies most capable of delivering effectively on sustainability and performance. Unlike e-fuels, EV technologies are already proven, energy-efficient and supported by an expanding infrastructure that continues to develop. Allocating resources to establish a separate, parallel infrastructure for e-fuels will only multiply the financial demands and divert away funds that could otherwise be used to enhance EV infrastructure and accelerate the adoption of electric transport.
Decarbonising transport will also necessitate the expansion of rail, public transport and active mobility modes; substantial investments will be essential for scaling up both services and infrastructure to meet these ambitions. The Letta report highlights that “the investment needs associated with realising the TEN-T core network by 2030 are estimated at around €500 billion, with a significant portion still lacking sufficient financial resources”. The Draghi report estimates that completing TEN-T is projected to increase GDP by €467 billion by 2050. For active mobility, Europe would require approximately €40 billion per year to double the number of cycle trips within 10 years.
Europe cannot afford to fragment its investment focus by pursuing less-efficient alternatives, particularly when electromobility is already delivering on its promises for cleaner transport and industrial competitiveness.
3. Enabling the transition to electromobility: skills and innovation
Europe’s transition to electromobility is generating demand for a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and advancing Europe’s standing in the global clean tech market. Any delays to the transition to electromobility would in turn delay the urgently required shift of the workforce from the fossil fuel industries to the electromobility supply chain and the e-mobility infrastructure ecosystem. Given the current regulatory framework and CO2 standards, jobs in energy production and energy infrastructure in Europe are expected to increase by 128% and 543%, respectively. E-fuels also do not offer the same potential for creating the quality, high-value and future-proof jobs in emerging sectors.
By investing in electromobility, Europe can build a workforce that is properly equipped for the green transition. It will bring skilled employment to local communities and ensure that the transition to clean mobility is supported through jobs with long-term prospects and benefits for European workers. A 2021 BCG study showed almost 80,000 extra operational production workers will be needed in the manufacture of batteries and accumulators, while OEMs will require 30,000 new software and system developers to manufacture electric motor vehicles.
4. Strategic autonomy and energy security
Given the growing need for energy security, electromobility offers Europe the opportunity to establish robust local supply chains based on locally recycled materials and locally produced renewable energy, thus reducing the need for imported fossil fuels. This is important, given that the vast majority of any future e-fuels used in Europe would be imported. As the global market for EVs continues to grow, Europe must concentrate its efforts on bridging the gap to other global leaders.
5. The cost of energy and Europe’s industrial competitiveness
The rising cost of energy is a key factor in the recent difficulties facing Europe’s industries. Developing a transport mode as energy intensive as e-fuels (e-fuels require five times the energy of direct electrification; hydrogen three times) would only drive energy costs higher across Europe.
The production of synthetic fuels is already highly energy intensive; each kilowatt-hour used to produce synthetic fuels is precious energy that cannot provide for other, more efficient, means. Synthetic fuels generated to store electricity during production peaks will be far from sufficient to match Europe’s demand and should be directed to hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation, shipping and energy intensive industries, not road transport for which more energy efficient technologies exist.
With electricity demand continuing to escalate, using synthetic fuels for land transport risks further undermining Europe’s industrial competitiveness by inflating operating costs for manufacturers, reducing the appeal of Europe as a hub for industrial investment. Prioritising energy-efficient, directly electrified transport modes is therefore essential for maintaining energy affordability, supporting industry and ensuring Europe’s long-term economic resilience.
Conclusion
The Platform for Electromobility urges European lawmakers to prioritise investments in clean mobility, and to avoid policies that would instead divert the required critical resources towards inefficient and expensive alternatives. By focusing on electromobility, we can create a sustainable, competitive and resilient transport sector that serves Europe’s citizens, economy and environment.
We consequently reiterate our full support for both the 2035 zero-emission targets for cars and vans and for the inter-institutional agreement – expressed in a European Commission statement1 and confirmed by recital 11 of the CO2 Standards regulation2 – on introducing synthetic fuels past this date. If any future role were to be given to alternative fuels, it should be minimal and restricted to vehicles running exclusively on 100% climate neutral RFNBOs (renewable liquid and gaseous fuels of non-biological origin).
E-fuels: a costly Pandora’s box for European drivers
Vehicles & Markets
The Platform for Electromobility calls on Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to consider carefully the impact of integrating e-fuels into Europe’s decarbonisation strategy, most notably into the post-2035 regulatory landscape. We advocate for policies that will prioritise energy efficiency, affordability and transparency for consumers; the proposal to expand e-fuel use risks undermining this. As the EU seeks to revise its CO2 standards for cars and vans, MEPs should evaluate how adopting e-fuels will affect Europe’s consumers in terms of increasing costs, creating regulatory ambiguity and ultimately impacting public health and air quality.
1. High costs of e-fuels for consumers
E-fuels are likely to be prohibitively expensive for everyday consumers, increasing the overall cost of mobility in Europe. By 2030, e-fuels are projected to cost consumers 4 times more per kilometre than battery electric vehicles (BEVs).1 While fossil fuel-industry advocates argue that large-scale production will reduce these costs, BEV technologies are also progressing, with prices expected to fall. The comparative cost burden on consumers – particularly low-income families and rural populations who need to cover the greatest distance – would hinder the EU’s ambition of affordable clean mobility accessible for all.
Without strong regulatory guardrails to support and incentivise the transition to electric mobility, drivers may face increased costs for synthetic fuels for internal combustion vehicles. Such a cost will disproportionately impact the most economically vulnerable consumers. These individuals rely on affordable mobility options; advancing high-cost technologies such as e-fuels threaten to exacerbate existing inequalities in accessing transportation. Producing a truly climate-neutral e-fuel will make the cost per kilometre driven significantly higher than any other modes of transports2.
[1]Clean solutions for all: T&E’s car decarbonisation roadmap - Transport & Environment [2] E-Fuels and Their Role in the Transport Sector - Transport & Environment
2. Regulatory instability: impacts on consumer decisions to shift to clean mobility
Inconsistent regulations and enabling conditions delays create uncertainty for consumers, leading to delayed decision-making in purchasing clean vehicles. This in turn is lowering the demand for the clean vehicles that European manufacturers urgently need to reach their decarbonisation targets. If e-fuels are introduced alongside BEVs, it may result in a complex and fragmented regulatory environment, one that is confusing for fleet managers. For example, approximately one-third of new cars in Europe are company vehicles, reflecting corporate fleet purchasing decisions. Companies seeking to decarbonise their fleets are encountering uncertainty over which technologies will ultimately be compliant with EU CO2 emissions standards. As a result, fleet buyers are delaying their decisions to switch to zero-emission vehicles, leading to a detrimental slowdown in clean vehicles market conditions.
Technology-neutral policies that increase regulatory ambiguity risk jeopardising Europe’s decarbonisation targets and lead to delays in adopting proven low-emission vehicles. In committing to a unified and energy-efficient path forward, the EU can provide consumers and companies alike with the certainty needed to make sustainable choices.
3. The Pandora’s box of fraud and ambiguity
Given that transport fuels derived from fossil or renewable energy are chemically identical, the process of monitoring and verifying the environmental benefits of e-fuels is loaded with logistical challenges.
In order to be fully transparent to consumers, fossil and e-fuels should not be blended, and their price should be clearly indicated at petrol stations. Otherwise, consumers committed to choosing clean energy sources for their vehicles may unwittingly purchase fuel that does not deliver the promised environmental benefits.
While control mechanisms are possible, introducing e-fuels alongside existent fossil-fuel pumps would require additional infrastructure investments. Such measures include dedicated e-fuel nozzles, adding additive to e-fuels to tell them apart from fossil fuels, while car makers would have to retrofit vehicles with new onboard sensors to ensure that the vehicle does not drive on fossil fuel. This burden would likely fall on consumers, who may face higher prices and additional maintenance costs. It would be better to invest these resources in more mature and energy-efficient technologies such as battery-electric vehicles. In contrast, BEVs offer transparency, with the energy source directly linked to an increasingly green electric grid, which is increasingly being decarbonised. Allowing e-fuels onto the market without robust consumer protection policies risks misleading consumers and potentially undermining public trust in the EU’s environmental objectives.
4. Impact on air quality and public health
E-fuels produce comparable levels of pollutants – such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter – as traditional fossil fuels. These impact air quality and public health, particularly in urban areas.[1] Europe’s cities already face air quality challenges; introducing e-fuels could further compromise efforts to reduce pollution in densely populated areas. By simply maintaining levels of harmful emissions, e-fuels undermine the EU’s objective of improving public health outcomes through cleaner transportation.
[1] E-Fuels: Current Status and Projections - PIK Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Policy recommendations for protecting consumers’ interest in the clean mobility transition
- Limit e-fuel use post-2035
Minimise the role of e-fuels in post-2035 vehicle sales, ensuring that only renewable-based e-fuels qualify. This measure will help direct investments to technologies with clear and measurable environmental benefits. We therefore reiterate our full support for both the 2035 zero-emission targets for cars and vans and the inter-institutional agreement set out in a European Commission statement[1] and confirmed by recital 11 of the CO2 Standards Regulation on the introduction of synthetic fuels beyond this date. If there were to be any role for alternative fuels, it should be minimal, and limited to vehicles running exclusively on 100% climate neutral RFNBOs.[2]
- Introduce consumer protections against high costs and misrepresentation
Develop consumer protection policies to mitigate against the high cost of e-fuels, provide transparency around their pricing and use and to prevent misleading claims on their benefits. For example, establishing clear labelling standards and specific nozzles for e-fuels could reduce confusion and help consumers avoid paying premiums for fuels that fail to meet expected environmental standards. In addition, supporting demand for energy-efficient transports (such as BEVs) will create more affordable mobility options.
- Prioritise energy efficiency in mobility investments
Encourage energy efficiency as a guiding principle for all public and private transport investments. By supporting the deployment of proven energy-efficient solutions such as BEVs, the EU can build a more affordable and accessible pathway to clean mobility.
[1] Commission Statement on CO₂ Standards for Light Commercial Vehicles - European Commission [2] Renewable liquid and gaseous fuels of non-biological origin
Conclusion
The Platform for Electromobility calls on MEPs to consider the risks posed by e-fuels. While potentially valuable in hard-to-abate sectors, e-fuels threaten to introduce higher costs, regulatory uncertainty and health risks in the transport sector. By maintaining its focus on energy efficiency and consumer protection, the EU can safeguard the interests of its citizens and ensure a smoother, more-affordable transition to clean mobility.
