Industry meeting triggers discussion about e-mobility

Created: 2023-01-10Updated: 2023-01-10 7:31 p.m

Symbols mark parking spaces with a public charging station for electric cars.

© Julian Stratenschulte/dpa

How can transport become more climate-friendly?

The federal government has some hope in electric cars.

But there is criticism of the charging infrastructure.

Above all, the federal government sees the economy on the train.

Berlin - On the occasion of a top meeting in the Chancellery, a discussion about the pace of the switch to electric cars flared up.

According to the federal government, the participants of the so-called "Strategy Platform for the Transformation of the Automotive and Mobility Industry", who met in the afternoon, reaffirmed the goal of bringing at least 15 million fully electric cars onto German roads by 2030.

Previously there had been criticism of the pace.

"The participants agreed that a rapid ramp-up of e-mobility is necessary in order to achieve the climate targets in transport," explained government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in a written statement after the meeting.

The federal government referred to the "master plan" presented in the autumn for the expansion of the charging network for electric cars.

“When it comes to setting up and operating the charging infrastructure, it is now primarily the energy and automotive industries that are required,” says Hebestreit.

The truck charging infrastructure is also to be advanced.

“Climate-friendly traffic turnaround needs more trains and fewer cars”

In addition to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), several ministers and representatives of the car and mobility industry, employees, science, states and municipalities took part in the round of talks.

Only after the meeting did the federal government publish the exact list of participants.

Organizations like Lobbycontrol had criticized the strong participation of the car industry.

“A climate-friendly traffic turnaround requires more trains and fewer cars.

The next mobility summit should deal with this,” demanded Marissa Reiserer from Greenpeace.

"We are clearly behind schedule on all the key targets that the federal government has set itself," IG Metall boss Jörg Hofmann had previously criticized on Deutschlandfunk.

Citizens are still cautious when purchasing electric cars.

From his 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.

Survey: Only 16 percent want to take a pure Stromer

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 lead to fewer electric cars being 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 facilities in densely populated cities, Deloitte said.

also read

Second heating subsidy: who gets the money – and how much

TO READ

First property tax notices in the mailbox: this is what owners need to know

TO READ

France's pension plans: "If Germany plunges into misfortune, we don't have to follow"

TO READ

Property tax will rise drastically as early as 2023 – which state will be hit hardest

TO READ

Savings banks and banks are terminating thousands of accounts: what customers need to know now

TO READ

Fancy a journey of discovery?

My space

“The chicken and egg problem in the market no longer exists”

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."

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 premiums and a prior expansion of the charging offer.

The demand and acceptance are already high, now the range of vehicles must be strengthened.” dpa