How should people and goods move through the country in the future? Chancellor Scholz discusses this with guests. But there is already criticism of the group of participants.
On the occasion of a top meeting in the Chancellery, there was criticism of the pace of the switch to electric cars. “We are clearly behind schedule on all the key targets that the federal government has set itself,” said IG Metall boss Jörg Hofmann on Deutschlandfunk on Tuesday. In the points that are essential for a successful turnaround in mobility, one is far behind the necessary expansion speed.
Citizens are still cautious about buying electric vehicles. From Hofmann’s point of view, this is mainly due to the insufficient charging infrastructure, which represents a major obstacle. Charging infrastructure must also be created where it is really needed, such as in the countryside, and not just where it is worthwhile. The IG Metall chairman spoke of hesitancy in the automotive industry and of plans that politicians had set themselves.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has invited to a top-level discussion on the future of the automotive industry on Tuesday afternoon. In addition to several ministers, representatives from business, employees, science, the federal states and municipalities should also take part in the first discussion of the so-called strategy platform “Transformation of the automotive and mobility industry” in the Chancellery. It should be about an exchange of views.
Slowed switch to electric cars
According to a consumer survey by the management consultancy Deloitte, the switch to e-cars is being slowed down by rising costs and a lack of infrastructure. Despite the growing choice of models, only 16 percent of those surveyed would choose a pure electric vehicle the next time they buy a car. At the end of 2021, the proportion was 15 percent. Lower operating costs and government purchase premiums are key arguments for buying an e-car. “Now the electricity costs are skyrocketing, while the subsidy is gradually being reduced and will even expire in 2025. This will mean that fewer electric cars will be sold in the future,” said industry expert Harald Proff.
Consumers cited the range as the greatest concern: at 57 percent, it was mentioned most frequently, followed by a lack of public charging infrastructure (47 percent), the charging time and the lack of charging options at home (45 percent each). 75 percent of those surveyed in Germany would most often charge their e-car at home. This desire has increased compared to the previous year (70 percent), although there are no charging options in densely populated cities, Deloitte said.
From the point of view of the Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), however, charging options are not the problem. A separate survey shows that users rated the development of the charging offer positively. “The utilization of the charging stations is around 15 percent, so there is plenty of room for improvement,” explained Kerstin Andreae, Chair of the BDEW Executive Board. “The chicken and egg problem in the market no longer exists.”
Demand exceeds supply
According to Andreae, the demand for e-cars far exceeds the supply. Customers sometimes waited longer than a year for their car. The number of registrations would have to increase much faster in order to have a total of 15 million fully electric cars on the roads by 2030 – this is the goal the federal government made up of SPD, Greens and FDP has set itself in the coalition agreement. “It is not enough to stimulate the demand side with purchase bonuses and a prior expansion of the charging offer. Demand and acceptance are already high, now the range of vehicles must be strengthened.”
There was criticism of the group of participants at the meeting. The organization Lobbycontrol recalled that the traffic light government had announced discussions on the subject with a larger group in the coalition agreement. “Now Chancellor Olaf Scholz invites you again to a one-sided car summit.” The car will thus continue to be given priority over other more climate-friendly means of transport. The ecological Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) made a similar statement – it was like convening an athletes’ summit and only inviting footballers. The federal government itself did not comment on the exact composition of the meeting in advance.
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.
