Gabriel Questions Bio-fuel Plans

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

Sigmar Gabriel demands clear facts from car manufacturers about refueling vehicles with E10. The Federal Environment Minister does not want to increase the proportion of biofuels at any price.

For millions of drivers, it is initially uncertain whether their mostly older "gasoline" engines can handle a larger amount of biofuel or whether they will then have to fill up with more expensive super plus gasoline. By the end of March, car manufacturers and importers want to report for which vehicle types the planned doubling of the bioethanol admixture to normal fuel in 2009 will be incompatible with the engines. The Federal Environment Ministry and the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) announced this on Thursday in accordance with an agreement from the previous day with the VDIK importers association. Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) declared that if the number of those affected is too high, the biofuel strategy must be “rethought” if necessary.

375,000 vehicles as the upper limit

The ministry of the German press agency dpa said the ministry of the German press agency dpa will not put the necessary federal emission protection regulation into force as long as there are uncertainties about the number of cars affected. «The association numbers are no longer sufficient. We want real manufacturer numbers. " So far, a decision in the cabinet is planned for May. The automobile club ADAC spoke of 1.5 million affected drivers who would have to expect massive cost increases. "The ADAC therefore demands that premium and regular gasoline with a maximum of five percent ethanol (E5) continue to be offered nationwide and at a reasonable price." Switching to the new 10 percent admixture (E10) means six cents more at the petrol pump, and those who switch to super plus gasoline pay up to 15 cents more today.

The VDA, on the other hand, made it clear that it is still assuming 375,000 affected vehicles with direct fuel injection of the 1st generation. That corresponds to a good one percent of all gasoline vehicles registered in Germany that have to switch to Super Plus. "This was the basis of the federal government's draft ordinance to amend the 10th Federal Emission Control Ordinance," says the joint statement. According to this, the proportion of biofuel is to be increased from five to ten percent, creating the E10 type of fuel.

Rely on VDA information

With the new admixture quota of ten percent, the car manufacturers do not want to issue separate declarations of liability. The VDA said that the usual warranties were adhered to. The declaration states: “The vehicle manufacturers will inform their customers about the vehicles' E10 compatibility. If, contrary to expectations, there should be problems with E10 compatibility in individual cases, the automotive industry will ensure a consumer-friendly regulation.”

Weeks ago, critical voices from workshops and car dealerships led to public speculation about millions of people affected. Because many engines are not compatible with biofuels, they would have to switch to the much more expensive super plus gasoline or replace their cars with new ones. When asked about this, Gabriel recently emphasized that they had relied on the VDA information. Because of the uncertainty, he had suggested the meeting with the associations. "If the number is now well above the 375,000 (vehicles named by the VDA), the matter becomes questionable," he said now.

The automobile manufacturers do not want to endanger the organic strategy. According to their will, this fuel should contribute a larger share to the EU strategy for reducing carbon dioxide from cars than planned by the EU Commission. In doing so, they want to make a greater contribution towards limiting carbon dioxide emissions in 2015 - Brussels is demanding in 2012 - to 120 grams per kilometer. (dpa)