More climate protection in traffic – electric cars should contribute to this. The purchase premium should even be increased and extended. However, environmental organizations are skeptical and are calling for alternative solutions.
In the debate about more climate protection in transport, environmental organizations have warned against relying on higher and longer purchase premiums for electric cars.
“Instead of again unilaterally investing taxpayers’ money to buy more and more cars, the money must be invested in new mobility with fewer cars,” said the chairman of the Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND), Olaf Bandt, the editorial network Germany ( Monday). Greenpeace turned against an “insanely expensive gift for the auto industry”, which brings next to nothing for climate protection.
According to a report by the “Handelsblatt” (Monday), Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) plans to extend and significantly increase the purchase premium for pure electric cars until 2027. For vehicles up to 40,000 euros, the state bonus is to be raised from 6,000 euros to 10,800 euros, the newspaper reports. In addition, there is a manufacturer subsidy of 3000 euros. For more expensive e-cars up to 60,000 euros, the premium should also increase. From the second half of 2023, buyers should have to scrap a combustion car that is at least eleven years old in order to receive full funding.
The ministry did not comment on the information when asked on Monday. A spokeswoman referred to ongoing government internal votes. According to the “Handelsblatt”, the plans are based on a government report in which research institutes evaluated a draft of the federal government’s planned immediate climate protection program.
Realignment of e-car funding
The traffic light coalition is aiming for a reorientation of the e-car promotion. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has announced it for the period from 2023. According to the coalition agreement, only e-cars that “demonstrably have a positive climate protection effect” should be funded in the future. This is to be determined by the proportion of electric driving and the minimum electric range. Beyond the end of 2025, the purchase premiums are no longer necessary, it is also said.
The existing grants have been extended again until the end of this year. Accordingly, there is an “innovation premium” of up to 9,000 euros for purely electric cars and up to 6,750 euros for hybrids that are charged via a plug (plug-in). The goal of the traffic light coalition is at least 15 million fully electric cars by 2030.
In addition, the government is working on an immediate climate protection program that is to be approved by the cabinet in July. To this end, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection is collecting proposals from the departments involved – there is not yet an overall draft. In particular, the ministries for construction and transport must make adjustments in order to achieve the goals for saving greenhouse gases. The Economics Ministry has had such proposals reviewed by external experts. You should calculate whether the desired effect can be achieved and whether there could be interactions between individual measures.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
