Europe’s carmakers not giving up on hydrogen e-fuels

As all-electric car sales growth grinds to a halt, firms are eyeing a long-term future for zero-emissions liquid fuels

The EU saw fewer new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sold in the first seven months of this year than in the same period in 2023, according to figures from automaker lobby group the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). And that is driving greater enthusiasm for the prospects of synthetic fuels, including a major role for those derived from green hydrogen, in the move towards zero-emissions light mobility. No less an auto industry figure than Oliver Blume, CEO of both the Volkswagen Group and Porsche, said in late July that “one thing has become more and more evident: the transformation of the automotive industry towards fully-electric vehicles has clearly lost momentum and