Germany Has To Get Out Of The Combustion Engine
Germany Has To Get Out Of The Combustion Engine

Video: Germany Has To Get Out Of The Combustion Engine

Video: Germany Has To Get Out Of The Combustion Engine
Video: Why The 2030 Petrol Ban Is Actually GOOD! 2024, March
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In view of the tussle over the climate protection plan, the Greens are calling for a climate protection law. In an interview with Autogazette, parliamentary group leader Anton Hofreiter talks about the Chancellor's failure to manage and why there must be a ban on diesel and gasoline vehicles.

In the struggle for the climate protection plan, Anton Hofreiter accuses Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) of failure. As the leader of the Greens in the Bundestag said in an interview with Autogazette, the Chancellor should have long since spoken a word of power if her former reputation as climate chancellor still meant something to her. “She has stood up at major conferences and campaigned for decarbonization by 2050. Now that it's about implementation in Germany, you don't hear from her anymore. This is classic leadership failure."

A fundamental agreement was reached between the ministries on Monday evening so that the federal cabinet can adopt the plan in its meeting on Wednesday. This means that Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks (SPD) could at least travel to Marrakech in the second week of the conference with a modified climate protection plan.

The Green politician, however, does not want to see this as a success for climate protection. "Because even if she takes a climate protection plan with her, then it no longer deserves this name - after her cabinet colleagues were allowed to cross out every consistent measure."

«CO2 emissions do not decrease by themselves»

Hofreiter assumes that the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95 percent by 2050 will continue to be part of the climate protection plan, but that there are no concrete measures how this goal can be achieved. «The CO2 emissions do not decrease by themselves. That means: Germany has to get out of the coal-fired power plants and has to get out of the combustion engine. The auto industry needs the signal: From 2030 new registrations only for emission-free cars."

At the federal party conference of the Greens, which begins on Friday, there will also be “an application to the demand for a registration ban for internal combustion engines from 2030 and a large majority will be obtained. If we want to come to decarbonisation by 2050, then we have to go this way."

From 2030 new registrations only for emission-free cars

A quick exit from coal is needed for the climate
A quick exit from coal is needed for the climate

Autogazette: Mr. Hofreiter, the dispute over the Climate Protection Plan 2050 is moving. Will Federal Environment Minister Hendricks not travel empty-handed to the UN climate conference in Marrakech after all?

Anton Hofreiter: The way it looks now, you will come to Marrakech empty-handed. Because even if she takes a climate protection plan with her, then it no longer deserves this name - if her cabinet colleagues were allowed to cross out every consistent measure.

Autogazette: So you fear that the climate protection target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Germany by 95 percent by 2050 will fall by the wayside until the cabinet meeting on Wednesday?

Rider:This goal will continue to be included in the climate protection plan. But the decisive factor are the specific measures how this goal can be achieved. The CO2 emissions do not decrease by themselves. That means: Germany has to get out of the coal-fired power plants and out of the combustion engine. The auto industry needs the signal: From 2030 new registrations only for emission-free cars.

Autogazette: The goal of phasing out coal well before 2050 fell victim to the red pencil. Was that the first indication for you that the climate protection plan was being watered down?

Rider:For me, that was the first indication that nothing concrete was going to come of this climate protection plan. Mr Gabriel, one of those who ran the red pen, is in the same party as Mrs Hendricks. Actually, he should have supported her. Instead, he left his party colleague out in the rain.

This is classic leadership failure

Autogazette: Should the Chancellor have spoken a word of power for this climate protection plan to be implemented consistently?

Hofreiter: Yes, if your former reputation as climate chancellor still means anything to you. She has stood up at major conferences and campaigned to achieve decarbonization by 2050. Now that it's about implementation in Germany, you don't hear from her anymore. This is classic leadership failure.

Autogazette: Does the turmoil over the climate protection plan show that binding targets can only be achieved with a climate protection law?

Rider:A climate protection law is urgently needed; such a climate protection law should contain concrete measures. But the federal government is unable to pass such a law.

Autogazette: Are the Greens planning to introduce a corresponding bill again?

Hofreiter: We have already taken various parliamentary initiatives to enforce a climate protection law and will continue to do so - as well as to phase out coal and the use of internal combustion engines. Now we are betting that we will have a different government from 2017, namely with green participation.

Auto industry not prepared for sustainable mobility

Electric smart
Electric smart

Autogazette: In order to achieve the climate protection target of 2050, the transport sector would have to reduce its emissions practically completely. Isn't this goal just as unrealistic as your plan to ban diesel and gasoline registrations from 2030?

Hofreiter: I don't think that's unrealistic. If the German auto industry does not switch to zero-emission vehicles by 2030, it runs the risk of not selling any more cars afterwards because it is in economic difficulties. Because then people in Germany will buy vehicles from the USA, France or Asia. Unfortunately, we have to realize that both government and industry are missing out on opportunities that would be made possible by technological innovation.

Autogazette:Is the auto industry offering the wrong models? You keep criticizing the fact that people rely too much on SUVs.

Hofreiter: The auto industry has to be accused of this. It simply has not prepared itself for sustainable mobility. Just look at Tesla: Tesla is offering a car for pre-order (editor's note, this is Model 3) and within a few days 400,000 orders are placed, although customers have to deposit 1000 US dollars. Who would have thought a few years ago that the large German auto industry would be demonstrated by a start-up. This shows the failure to recognize future trends.

It's all about new registrations

The automotive industry wants to reduce CO2 emissions, but it is linked to specifications
The automotive industry wants to reduce CO2 emissions, but it is linked to specifications

Autogazette: Technology is one thing, profitability is another. Tesla has not made any money so far.

Hofreiter: Not yet. When leap innovations are pending, the old industry always reacts the same: It is said that you have a great business model. But when the leap innovations have prevailed, the old industries are often gone. I don't want VW, BMW or Daimler to do the same as EON or RWE. A few years ago they made good money with their coal and nuclear power plants. Now they are a shadow of themselves.

Autogazette:An approval ban for combustion engines from 2030 will also meet with resistance in your own party. Your party colleague Kretschmann thinks nothing of this target date. Will there still be a corresponding proposal at the party congress?

Hofreiter: There will be a motion and it will get a large majority. If we want to come to decarbonisation by 2050, then this is the right path. Incidentally, our proposal does not mean that you can no longer use the gasoline or diesel that you bought before 2030. It's all about new registrations.

Autogazette: Aren't you provoking the crash of the auto industry with a proposal after an end to combustion engines?

Rider:No, the auto industry will cause a crash if it sticks to the old technology. The industry has so far been proud of its diesel technology. But it has a market share of less than three percent in the USA, and even less than one percent in China. In China, people prefer to speak of an electrical quota. In other countries like France, India and so on, people like us are talking about not letting diesel vehicles into the cities anymore. Does the auto industry really believe that it is selling its cars within a protective fence erected by the federal government? Economic success is decided abroad.

So far we have the diesel planned economy

Diesel remains tax-privileged
Diesel remains tax-privileged

Autogazette: You mentioned the electric quota in China, which should come in 2018. Do you understand the concerns of the auto industry?

Hofreiter: No, because anyone who knows China with its air pollution cannot be surprised. License plates are auctioned in Beijing. Only every 700th person gets a license plate. If you decide on an electric car, you will immediately receive a license plate.

Autogazette: Dieter Zetsche will also appear at the Green Party Congress. For the Daimler boss, prescribing technology and customer behavior has nothing to do with the market economy. Do you want the ecological planned economy?

Rider:No, so far we have tended to have a diesel planned economy. It is only so successful because it is discounted on the mineral oil tax. We only want zero-emission vehicles from 2030 - and Mr. Zetsche can also work towards that goal. We want vehicles that do not harm the climate or people's health. How the industry accomplishes this is their responsibility. The engineers certainly have more ideas than the managers.

Autogazette: The purchase premium for electric cars was supposed to stimulate demand. But by the end of October, just 5,782 applications had been received. Were you surprised by this low demand?

Rider:No, it didn't surprise me because the political framework is missing. But that customers are willing to spend money on innovative products can be seen from the example of Tesla and the high demand for pedelecs.

Autogazette: It's not just a question of the products, but also of the infrastructure …

Hofreiter: … of course there are a number of reasons. The lack of range, the lack of a network of charging stations, have been a high price to date.

The auto industry needs binding goals

Autogazette: Does the ecological traffic turnaround have to be enforced?

Hofreiter: You have to pass reasonable laws. The auto industry has refused to introduce the catalytic converter; it has been obliged to do so by law, as is the case with the particulate filter. I don't understand why the industry hasn't learned enough from it. Therefore: In order for the automotive industry to consistently plan towards modern, emission-free vehicles, it also needs binding targets.

Autogazette: From 2021, manufacturers will have to reach a CO2 limit of 95 g / km. With a view to the ecological turnaround in traffic, isn't it necessary to set ambitious goals for 2025?

Rider:The focus must be on the CO2 limit values falling towards zero between 2020 and 2030.

Frank Mertens conducted the interview with Anton Hofreiter

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