Germany is synonymous with automakers Volkswagen and Porsche who are both developing e-fuels sources. Furthermore, a ban on ICE vehicles likely involves significant retooling costs and/or stranded manufacturing assets. Nevertheless, Germany had previously been on board with the proposal when they broke from the ranks at the 

. Although even within the German government, this is a contentious issue; the liberal party partner is leading this push, while the green party points out the need for a fast transition to e-mobility.

In any case, Germany has found other allies to form a bloc of seven whose 

 to discuss changes to the EU proposal. In this bloc, Italy has a sizeable automotive industry (headlined by the Fiat group) and comprises much demand for transport natural gas. The Eastern European nations in this group (Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia) are likely to have difficulties in developing supply chains for electric vehicles and the green power to fuel them.

Under parliamentary procedure, the Council can make changes to the proposal and resubmit for a second reading, although this is rare as most disagreements are usually resolved at the earlier trialogue stage. The final vote on an ICE ban 

 on the EP position adopted in February, which also noted that while an ICE ban would gradually reduce demand for biomethane in the small vehicle sector, this currently does not take up significant demand. Nevertheless, a firm decision to scrap the ICE ban may encourage small vehicle manufacturers to consider and develop gas-fuelled models as part of their offerings. This would have the effect of encouraging long-term demand for transport biomethane.

While much of the opposition to the ban has focussed on e-fuels, biomethane is likely to garner attention in this discussion. E-fuel production is considered energy inefficient, as it involves two intensive steps (production of hydrogen from electricity, and conversion of hydrogen to e-fuel) which both incur significant energy losses. As such, the energy content of the final e-fuel product represents less than half of the energy content of the initial electricity input. In conjunction with internal combustion engine losses, this may lead to a 

-fold decreased efficiency in comparison to direct use in electric cars.

Thus, it seems reasonable that transport biomethane (which is more energy efficient) be appraised as a pathway for ICE vehicles beyond 2035 if e-fuels are on the table. In any case, biomethane remains an important pathway for the decarbonisation of 

, where it outperforms batteries in energy density.

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The European Parliament’s proposal for an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) ban by 2035 has been stymied by seven Member States, essentially consisting of Germany, Italy and eastern European nations. The main objection of the group was the exclusion of e-fuels.