We're potentially celebrating some very big news regarding the future of the internal combustion engine, and we may have FIVA to thank. 

FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens or international federation of historic vehicles) has been studying the use of e-fuels and where these fuels would work well in both modern and, more crucially, classic cars.

With more and more companies concentrating on moving their production to electric vehicles, the future of petrol vehicles, specifically the use of classic cars, has been in severe doubt.

As part of the latest E.U. zero-emissions legislation, there had been concerns that the sale of internal combustion engine cars would be banned from 2035. Fossil fuels are rapidly running out, and up until now, an alternative has yet to come to the fore. Electrification has quickly picked up in recent years, but there may be hope for I.C.E. (internal combustion engine) enthusiasts yet.

European energy and transport ministers decided this week that, after 2035, no new cars or vans can be sold in Europe if they emit carbon pollution into the atmosphere. It looked at one stage as if the internal combustion engine had reached the end of the road in the E.U. But a last-minute campaign, led by Germany, produced an amendment that would still allow traditional engines to be bought and used if new vehicles were adapted so they could only accept non-polluting synthetic fuels.

 It is hoped to encourage the commercial development of e-fuels, making it easier for classic vehicle owners to transition away from traditional fossil fuels. 

 FIVA president, Tiddo Bresters, said the classic vehicle community has already done much to champion the use of clean fuels. It welcomes these latest developments: "FIVA has always been keen to play its part in tackling man-made climate change wherever possible, and the use of e-fuels is already being actively promoted at this year's programme of FIVA World Events."

 Personally, I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I read this news. While the electric car market is producing some exciting vehicles and groundbreaking technology, petrolheads everywhere seem to need more time to be fully ready to have their beloved classics taken from them. 

 Ongoing trials by FIVA member organisations in Austria, France, Germany, Netherlands and the U.K. have shown that e-fuels work well in historic engines.

Words: Mike Booth