Internal combustion engines have their days together, and although no specific deadlines have yet been set in many geographical areas, multiple relocations restricting their mobility make it quite clear that more or less their end has already begun. And at least at first glance, this seems like a pretty positive step in itself is not enough to mitigate the engine’s impact on the environment.

The Associated Press reports today on an agreement reached in the European Parliament that proposes to ban the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines from 2035. The measures taken by the environmental groups were very pleased, but which, as expected, had already met with some resistance from the automotive sector, who considered that the state and infrastructure development plan had not been taken into account in this decision.

Although this step by the European Parliament is important, this does not mean that the decision is made and is irreversible. It has yet to be approved by the states that make up the European Union. This, of course, could lead to an important disagreement between those who have already made significant progress in adopting electric cars and others, such as Germany, whose car industry could suffer if a veto on internal combustion engines were finally imposed from 2035. What’s more, we can imagine that the lobby has already started working on postponing the deadline.

This is a major problem for the car industry in Europe it took too long to start working on the electric motor, and needless to say when we talk about hydrogen engines. They are still 13 years old to complete this journey, but we cannot deny that it is extremely long and complicated. Internal combustion engines have been key to the industry for decades, leaving them with no choice but to re-emerge.

Is the elimination of internal combustion engines enough?

This is, in fact, a big question to ask. It is true that the leap towards clean energy is a moral obligation for future generations, and any progress in this direction should be welcomed. The problem, however, is that the transition from internal combustion engines to electric cars does not necessarily mean clean energy consumption.

Some time ago, it became a viral photograph that we could see electric car connected to a diesel-powered electric generator. A generator that consumes energy to operate, energy to charge the car’s batteries, and the energy that is lost in the process. Under these conditions, this vehicle was more polluting than a regular car. And if much of the energy demand that fossil fuels meet today, the demand of internal combustion engines, goes to electricity without an increase in clean electricity sources … the effect could be unfavorable.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against putting consumption dates on internal combustion engines, the problem is that the electric alternative still has to take quite a few steps in many ways, and that the one that is a real revolution for many points, hydrogen, will still need at least a few decades to reach the required level of maturity.