TUM study fuels clash over electric cars and combustion engines

A study by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) says battery-electric vehicles reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 41 percent compared with combustion-engine vehicles. But its criticism of the European Union’s climate accounting has triggered a political dispute, BR reported.

The study was published shortly before crucial talks in Brussels on future regulation of the transport sector. It had already caused controversy because some interpreted it as an argument in favour of combustion engines.

Researchers call for life-cycle assessment

The researchers analysed existing studies and examined different scenarios in what they call a meta-study. They found that battery-electric vehicles clearly reduce emissions compared with combustion-engine vehicles.

However, they criticised current EU climate rules for focusing only on emissions from vehicle exhausts during road use. Emissions from producing steel, aluminium and battery cells are not included in the assessment, they said.

As a result, the European Commission considers fully electric vehicles to be 100 percent climate-neutral. The researchers called this a central error in the EU’s carbon dioxide regulation. They proposed assessing vehicles over their entire life cycle, from production and operation to recycling.

TUM president argues for technology neutrality

Thomas Hofmann, TUM’s president, said a ban on combustion engines could limit innovation, including efforts to find better ways to protect the climate. He therefore supports allowing different technologies to compete.

CSU leader Markus Söder said the study supported his position. Electric cars were good, he said, but he objected to what he described as the EU Commission’s absolute focus on electric mobility. Söder called for significant changes in the talks in Brussels expected this autumn.

Bavaria’s Economy Minister Hubert Aiwanger of the Free Voters also welcomed the study. He said what he called the ideological rules from Brussels were making life difficult for the automotive industry.

Greens warn against misreading the study

Green European Parliament member Michael Bloss took a different view. The study clearly showed the superiority of electric cars over combustion-engine vehicles, he told BR24. Electrification was the right course, he said, but was not yet enough to meet climate targets. Drawing the conclusion that combustion engines should receive more attention and electric cars less would make no sense, Bloss said.

Environment ministry disputes criticism

Germany’s Environment Ministry accused the researchers of failing to take EU measures to improve vehicles’ climate footprint into account. A ministry spokesperson referred to the EU Battery Regulation, which governs battery recycling, and to emissions trading, which is intended to create incentives for more environmentally friendly steel production.

These aspects were omitted by the Technical University of Munich, the ministry said.

The study has also faced criticism within TUM. Markus Lienkamp of the university’s vehicle engineering department wrote that its new contribution was limited to a partly successful statistical analysis of individual studies. In terms of content, he said, all the data and conclusions were already known in the academic community.

Lienkamp, who specialises in electric mobility, also criticised the decision not to involve relevant TUM professors in the study.