Germany’s e-fuel EU loophole could mean ‘135bn more litres of petrol burnt’

Request for exemption from ICE car phase-out would displace up to 46m electric cars, says campaign group

A shock German push to break an agreed EU-wide phase-out of conventional cars by 2035 could displace up to 46m electric car sales and trigger the burning of 135bn more litres of fossil petrol than needed, according to a new study.

EU leaders and MEPs had agreed a phase-out of internal combustion engines (ICEs) by 2035 but earlier this month, Germany's transport ministry, led by the liberal FDP party, lodged an objection just days before a rubber-stamping vote.