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Volker Wissing
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CLEMENS BILAN / EPA
This evening, Volker Wissing will appear before the members of the Bundestag for the first time as Transport Minister to explain his plans for the next four years.
But the FDP politician had already made public that he did not believe in a future of the internal combustion engine in cars.
“We have to use the various energy sources where they are most efficient.
In cars, that's the electric drive, "Wissing told the information service" Tagesspiegel Background ".
In doing so, Wissing is breaking away from the position his party has held for a long time, most recently in the federal election campaign.
The Liberals spoke out in favor of synthetic fuels - so-called e-fuels - also for cars.
There is also a corresponding passage in the coalition agreement: According to this, cars with internal combustion engines could have a long-term future, provided they are filled with e-fuels.
E-fuels are not the solution for cars, Wissing said, and is thus particularly in favor of the Greens.
"For the foreseeable future, we won't have enough e-fuels to run the cars with combustion engines that are now approved," said Wissing.
The e-fuels are mainly needed for air traffic.
At the same time, the Minister of Transport warned consumers to continue to rely on combustion engines.
»The use of fossil fuels will become more expensive in the future.
That's why I can only advise you to switch to CO2-neutral drives. ”At the same time, it should be ensured that charging with renewable electricity remains affordable.
"If you look at the EU regulation, you can see that the decision in favor of e-mobility has long been made," said Wissing.
"If we force the switch, we will also achieve our climate goals," he explained.
By 2030, 15 million fully electric cars are to be on Germany's roads.
For this, however, a lot still has to change.
Wissing also sees it as the task of the German automotive industry to convince people.
"Tesla has succeeded in delighting many buyers with its models; I would also like the same for the German automobile manufacturers."
Yes and no to 30 km / h in cities, no to the city toll
Wissing would like to give cities and municipalities more freedom in the turnaround in traffic.
So far, these cannot be implemented so easily at around 30 km / h.
"The local communities know best what is good for their residents," he said now.
But he is not convinced of an area-wide Tempo 30 in urban areas.
This speed limit is rather less useful on thoroughfares.
Cities could use the flexibility to make cycling and walking safer or to better protect people from noise, emphasized Wissing.
A broad alliance of cities would like more room for maneuver from the federal government at Tempo 30.
The initiative founded in July 2021, which is also supported by the German Association of Cities, has now been joined by over 70 cities.
Wissing takes a more critical view of other instruments for relieving cities of car traffic.
"I don't think much of additional burdens from instruments such as a city toll: Mobility must remain an affordable option for everyone," said Wissing.
In order to improve the flow of traffic, the minister is relying on better use of data.
As an example, Wissing cited the erection of construction site signs on streets that the public did not know about.
"And so on Monday morning people drive unsuspectingly towards this construction site." This information should be stored in a cloud so that navigation systems can use it and redirect motorists.
Radlobby calls for reforms
Interest groups called for further reforms for the mobility transition on Thursday.
In traffic law, the privilege of cars must be ended, explained the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC).
Wissing had to initiate the reform of the Road Traffic Act within the first 100 days.
"Our traffic law is a thing of the past - the car comes first, all other types of traffic are marginalized," said ADFC Federal Managing Director Ann-Kathrin Schneider.
"This imbalance no longer fits our time."
Germany is lagging behind in an international comparison.
fww / dpa / AFP
