So far, diesel fuel has had tax privileges.
The traffic light wants to change that.
Diesel could soon cost 18 cents more per liter.
Berlin - So far, the state has levied an energy tax of 47.04 cents per liter on diesel and 65.45 cents on petrol.
That is why diesel is cheaper than petrol at the pumps.
This tax inequality could now fall: The coalition agreement of the traffic light provides for the "tax equalization of diesel fuel and petrol".
That means: around 18 cents more per liter for diesel.
New diesel registrations fell by 56.7 percent in October
There are around half as many diesel vehicles on German roads as combustion engines. There were around 15 million diesels on average in 2021, around 31 million petrol engines. But diesel is still popular with frequent drivers - despite the all-time highs at petrol stations this year. Although combustion engines are cheaper to buy, cheaper diesel prices pay off in the long term for company cars in the field or for taxis.
But new registrations of diesel vehicles are on the decline.
The car market is weak, and not just since the semiconductor crisis: In October 2021, new car registrations fell by 35 percent compared to the same month last year, as the ADAC reports.
In the case of diesel vehicles, the decline was even 56.7 percent, while electric cars increased by a third (32 percent) in October.
Fewer new registrations are at least good news for the climate: CO2 emissions from newly registered cars fell by a sixth in October compared to the previous year.
The reduction of greenhouse gases is urgently needed, because climate researchers agree: It is "five to twelve" and there is not much time to stop climate change.
Are diesel prices rising?
That is in the coalition agreement
The tax relief on the diesel price was originally due to the lower CO2 emissions of this drive. But since the diesel scandal at the latest, it has been clear that the vehicles emit significantly more nitrogen oxides. This is where the traffic light coalition agreement comes into play. Because the coalition wants to take measures with its policy to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial times. The key point on energy costs can be found in the subsection "Subsidies". FDP, SPD and the Greens announce that they want to gain additional budgetary leeway by "reducing unnecessary, ineffective and environmentally and climate-damaging subsidies and expenses in the household."
Specifically, it says: "With the implementation of the EU Energy Tax Directive, which includes the tax alignment of diesel fuel and gasoline, we will review the tax treatment of diesel vehicles in the vehicle tax." The EU Energy Tax Directive relates to the taxation of Electricity, fuel and other heating fuels. From the point of view of the European Commission, a “neutral” taxation of diesel and petrol would be more equitable for consumers. The idea is to tax fuels based on their energy content. In 2011, the
FAZ
even came to more than 18 cents per liter in a calculation: As a result, the energy tax for diesel would have to rise to just under 75 cents per liter, since diesel is significantly more energetic than petrol.
"A restructuring of the energy taxation must not end as a hidden tax increase," the ADAC criticized
BILD
.
If the traffic lights opt for the same taxation of gasoline and diesel vehicles, "the diesel surcharge in the vehicle tax must also be reduced," the ADAC continues.
For every 100 cubic centimeters of displacement, diesel cars pay 7.50 euros more vehicle tax.
In the current contract, the traffic light also promises to "review the vehicle tax." Consumers who live in the country and have to drive long distances in particular suffer from the high energy prices.
From the point of view of the traffic light, the citizens' money is intended to absorb additional burdens.
