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Source: https://www.motor1.com/news/722457/vw-invest-billions-gas-engines/ It's fair to say the transition to EVs isn't going as some automakers had projected. Several car manufacturers are delaying their lofty goals to become purely electric in the foreseeable future. Just last y, Volkswagen estimated that EVs would account for as much as 80 percent of annual sales in Europe by the end of the decade. The so-so reception of ID models has prompted VW to revise its strategy. Of the €180 billion ($196 billion) set aside in 2023 primarily for next-generation EVs, the German brand will now use one-third to continue the development of combustion engines. The announcement comes from Arno Antlitz, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at the Volkswagen Group. The company intends to spend roughly €60 billion ($65 billion) to "keep our combustion cars competitive." Speaking at an event held by Reuters in Munich, the CFO and COO added that "the future is electric, but the past is not over. It is a third and it will stay a third." It's a stark departure from the previous plan announced in late 2022 to build and sell only electric cars in Europe from 2033. Last year, VW brand boss Thomas Schäfer referred to ICE as being "old technology" in the context of e-fuels. He described the discussions surrounding synthetic fuels as being nothing more than "unnecessary noise." That's despite the fact fellow VW Group brand Porsche is actively involved in producing synthetic fuel at a factory in Chile. Other high-end marques from the VW empire are also keeping a close eye on how sustainable fuels evolve. Bugatti is even thinking of designing fuel stations that could be installed at the owner's home and filled up with synthetic fuel. Lamborghini believes the combustion engine could be saved by making it run on something other than fossil fuels. Bentley is also exploring nearly carbon-neutral fuels. Speaking of the Crewe-based marque, Bentley has pushed back its objective to become EV-only by 2030, delaying it by three years. Similarly, Ford no longer thinks it can go entirely electric in Europe by 2030. Aston Martin recently reversed course as well and will continue to produce cars with combustion engines into the next decade. It's clear that more and more car companies are reevaluating their EV strategies as people aren't willing to let go of ICE just yet. Automakers are in quite a predicament because emissions regulations are getting tighter, requiring investments to make gas engines run cleaner. At the same time, the electric offensive from China is a cause for concern for global players.

Source: https://www.motor1.com/news/706202/porsche-thinks-combustion-engine-ban-could-be-dealyed/ Porsche CFO believes sales of new cars with combustion engines could continue in the European Union after 2035, and Lincoln is cutting 100 dealers in the United States this year. This is AM Drive, Motor1's daily look at the news you need before you get in your car. Porsche Thinks The Combustion Engine Could Survive Beyond 2035 in The EU Porsche Chief Financial Officer Lutz Meschke attended the world premiere of the Macan EV this week in Singapore where he let it slip the combustion engine's future might not be as dark as claimed. Speaking with Automotive News Europe, the company's CFO said: "There's a lot of discussions right now around the end of the combustion engine. I think it could be delayed." He was referring to the sales ban on new cars with combustion engines in the European Union from 2035. For the sake of clarity, the ban refers to cars that generate emissions, so in theory, hydrogen-burning combustion engines or ones that run on synthetic fuels could be allowed. In March 2023, Reuters reported on the European Commission's draft to allow sales of new ICE cars after 2035 provided the vehicles run on climate neutral fuels. Later in September, the news agency followed-up with a story about another draft demanding automakers to demonstrate that their cars can run entirely on e-fuels that are carbon neutral. In the case of Porsche, the Zuffenhausen-based marque projects more than 80 percent of cars delivered globally annually will be EVs by 2030. In the meantime, a gas model will be prematurely retired in the European Union where the first-generation Macan will cease to exist later this year due to upcoming cybersecurity regulations. The fully electric, second-generation model will indirectly take its place, but at a much higher price tag.

The US National Petroleum Council (NPC) says high costs and technology limitations will ensure that internal combustion engines remain the dominant power source for cars until at least the middle of the century. Although there have been innovations in electric and hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technologies, the lower cost of internal combustion engines and their suitability will see conventional petrol and diesel engines, hybrids, plug-ins and natural gas engines continue to lead the market until 2050. However, all is not lost for the environment. The NPC believes that the ongoing technological advancements in lightweight materials, improved aerodynamics and drivetrain electrification could see the fuel economy of internal combustion engine vehicles improve by 60 to 90% over the next four decades. The report also commented that it is too early to pinpoint the fuel of the future and hence recommends that a broad portfolio of technology options should be pursued and supported. Hence, oil producing nations can rest assured that their export will still be in hot demand for a long time to come. The National Petroleum Council is an American advisory committee representing oil and natural gas industry views to the Secretary of Energy.