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Germany: short-term biofuel targets down
Amidst increasing pressure on EU biofuel targets, the German government stresses it won't let go of the national 2020 10 per cent target. However, the 2009 target has been lowered from 6.25 to 5 per cent.
According to the Financial Times Deutschland, German federal Minister for the Environment Mr. Sigmar Gabriel, apparently agreed on somewhat loosening the reins because more than 3 million cars technically cannot cope with E10. Mr. Gabriel "doesn't want to take responsibility for forcing millions of people to fill up their tanks with more expensive super plus fuel".
Ironically, lowering the short-term biofuels share makes it more difficult for German car makers to meet their 2012 emission target of 120 grams per kilometre. Read the full article here (German language).
Eventually, this may very well be a blessing in disguise for the German car industry. It will give car makers and politicians alike a strong case for the inevitability of softening the already heavily contested 120 g/km target.
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