German newspapers comment on Wednesday (March 29, 23) on the EU decision to ban the registration of new combustion cars after 2035 and Germany’s unexpected change of mind.
“Frankfurter Rundschau” estimates that e-fuels will hardly contribute to making traffic on the roads climate-friendly. The daily refers to the analysis of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research, which concluded that there will be a shortage of them for a long time, because in 2035 they will not even be enough to cover the demand in Germany alone. A newspaper from Frankfurt suggests that the liberal FDP coalition was not about climate protection at all, but about seducing its voters as long as possible with the fact that – despite the climate crisis – it will not change in their current lives. As confirmation of his thesis, he cites the proposal of the German Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), who wants to reduce the taxation of e-fuels “to make them more favorable, as they are climate-friendly”. According to the newspaper, Lindner betrays his intentions with such arguments. “Because, on another issue, he’s not willing to remove tax credits for fossil diesel, even if he could save money that way. If the FDP were really about the climate, they might start with that,” he says.
Whereas “Augsburger Allgemeine” notes that e-fuels have become a political issue, but at the same time believes that the discussion is partly missing the point. ‘There are areas where e-fuels deserve a chance. However, whether they will find widespread use in the automotive market is questionable.’ The Augsburg daily believes that the main problem with e-fuels is their inefficiency. He also believes that the idea of producing climate-neutral fuels from carbon dioxide in the air, water and green electricity has its charm. “However, the conversion processes consume a lot of energy. The efficiency of a vehicle with e-fuels is only 15 percent,” concludes the newspaper.
“Reutlinger General-Anzeiger” states that the agreement concluded in Brussels is a victory for climate protection. “It means less carbon dioxide in the air and clarity for the car industry. Leaving the technology to achieve climate neutrality open is a pragmatic and good decision.” According to the daily, while politics should set targets for industry, it should not exclude certain technologies for ideological reasons.
On the other hand “Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung” notes that this is not the first time that Germans have behaved like an elephant in a china shop. “But even if the demand was politically sensitive, it was right,” he said. “Because despite the criticism and uncertainty about e-fuels, it would be a mistake to limit yourself to one type of propulsion – the electric car – and set technological limits right now.” The newspaper emphasizes that 2035 is still very far away and who knows how far – given the rapid development of technology – synthetic fuels will be advanced then. “Even if e-fuels are considered expensive and inefficient today, the situation may be completely different in the future,” warns the “Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung”.
Source: Gazeta
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