Germany cautious of Europe’s ban on fossil-fuel automobiles by 2035… Too costly, technically unfeasible

From the NoTrick Zone

By P Gosselin on February 18, 2023

When the EU Parliament voted on February 14 to ban new fossil fuel car registrations from 2035, the folly of the idea seemed to dawn on those who were expected to take a more critical stance much sooner.

In addition, ordinary Germans finally seem to have doubts about the rush to e-mobility, as a new Allensbach survey suggests.

“Many people in Germany still have reservations about the widespread use of electric cars, mainly because of the high costs,” reports the German Blackout News here. “Although a majority of those surveyed believe that electric drives will become established in the next ten years, only 22 percent consider this to be desirable.”

There are a number of reasons Germans aren’t excited about electric cars, including the environmental impact of mining the raw materials used to make the batteries and recycling them after death. Another problem is the limited range and the high weight of electric cars. The biggest reason why Germans are reluctant to switch to electric cars is the high price.

“According to the survey, the main reservations about electric cars are the purchase price, the limited number of charging stations, expensive electricity and doubts about the environmental balance as well as the now threatened reduction in electricity purchases,” Blackout News sums up.

The car remains an indispensable means of transportation for the German citizens, so cost and reliability remain the most important factors to consider when buying a car. While 47% of respondents said they use a car every day, only 18% said they use a bike every day.

Alternatives too expensive, inefficient

Blackout News also reports why other options like hydrogen will not be a viable alternative due to the high costs involved in producing hydrogen and “the lack of infrastructure for its distribution”.

The same applies to e-fuels, which are very power-intensive and inefficient in combustion engines, say experts.

Experts point out that e-cars are “the best for the environment”, but only if they are operated with green electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind or solar systems. In most countries this is far from the case.

No “yuppie” rules

Germany’s opposition leader Friedrich Merz from the CDU sharply criticized the EU Parliament’s call for a ban on combustion engines from 2035: “We will not be guided by the yuppies in the big cities,” said the CDU leader. (See Story, The World Here).

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