A decision made by the European Union about vehicles with internal combustion engines gave an extra life to traditional automotive companies, like Ferrari. With this decision, the future of the supercars is set, and it is not completely electric. After receiving the good news, the head of Ferrari, Benedetto Vigna, made an announcement unveiling the plans of the company for new cars, with a new fuel, to be released in 2035. The company has also confirmed that the first full-electric Ferrari should be released by 2025, but the exact date was not revealed.
The EU decision was favorable to Ferrari and its supercars
After a long discussion, the European Union and Germany agreed to allow new combustion engine cars after 2035. Besides being positive to automotive companies, such as Ferrari, the decision also includes some rules that must be applied to cars with a combustion engine.
Known worldwide for its sporty design with high-performance engines, Ferrari is directly affected by this decision. Although the technology applied to its engines, the traditional automaker did not have a full electric engine until now. According to specialists, the first Ferrari with a full-electric engine is expected this year, 2025. But things might change very soon, according to Benedetto Vigna’s statement.
With the agreement between Germany and the EU, after 2035, new cars with combustion engines must be filled up exclusively with CO2-neutral fuels. To attend to this demand, Ferrari decided on a new engine with e-methanol, which should be released together with this new super engine. Besides the decision, the company decided to provide models with three types of engines: internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid engines, and a full-electric motor, leaving the choice for its customers.
For Ferrari, the decision ensures the freedom of choice for its customers
The EU’s decision was celebrated by Vigna, which states:
“The good news for us as a company is that on top of electric cars, we’ll be able to go on with our internal combustion engines.”
Ferrari’s CEO also reinforced the plans to ensure the freedom of choice for its customers:
“We do not want to tell clients which car to use. We want to make three kinds of propulsion available for them: hybrid, electric, and ICE. They will choose”.
But to make it happen, they will rely on CO2-neutral fuels, such as e-kerosene, e-methane, and e-methanol. And they already have a favorite.
An internal combustion engine powered with e-methanol
According to some specialists, Ferrari’s choice was for the e-methanol, one of the most powerful e-fuels available on the market. Together with other CO2-neutral fuels, e-methanol is made by synthesizing captured CO2 emissions and hydrogen produced using renewable or CO2-free electricity. Besides being considered clean energy, these fuels release CO2 into the atmosphere when used in an engine, but it has the same amount taken out of the atmosphere to produce the fuel. Thus, the emission of CO2 is practically neutral.
For some specialists, fuels like e-methanol are the future for ICE cars, and are a great alternative for drivers who are not into electric cars.
Besides the decision, Ferrari will keep the plans for an electric engine
Besides the decision that benefits Ferrari, the company’s choice is to keep the plans for developing a full-electric car. Indeed, the new version of its engine should be released sometime this year. According to Vigna, the electrification is part of the company’s plans: “The figure I gave last year, with 4.4 billion euros for capex in the 2022-2026 period, is enough for us to keep developing electric engines and also ICEs compatible with e-fuels”. Ferrari’s plans can be clearly seen through this new engine, and this is all we know about it.