How the FDP disgraced Germany with e-fuels

In the debate about phasing out combustion engines for new cars from 2035, the federal government has reached an agreement with the EU. Transport Minister Wissing had previously disgraced Germany. Approval for vehicles that are fueled with e-fuels lacks any logic. But it becomes reality. A comment.

“We have reached an agreement with Germany on the future use of e-fuels in cars,” tweeted Frans Timmermans, Vice-President of the European Commission. Almost at the same time chirped Minister of Transport Volker Wissing: “The way is clear: Europe remains technology-neutral”. What Wissing describes as “free” only blocks.

Combustion engine off: Europe stays “keep it up”

Because the only thing that remains in Europe is a lack of innovation, because the FDP – for whatever reason – like a small child who has lost its pacifier, was once again able to get its way. For whatever reason.

You have to let it melt in your mouth: Germany is the only country in Europe that advocates the implementation of so-called e-fuels so that combustion engines can also be approved on this basis after 2035. As the only country in Europe!

Background: No other country considers the synthetic fuels that are produced from water and CO2 using electricity to be sensible – not even the Eastern European countries. Because what initially sounds climate-friendly and supposed to be climate-neutral actually only has downsides.

E-fuels: expensive and ineffective

The production of e-fuels requires a lot of energy. But in Germany there is not enough renewable energy to produce anywhere near enough of the fuel. E-fuels would therefore not only be correspondingly expensive, but would also have to be produced in other countries. Progressive, right? As the only country in Europe!

But even then they should be six times as expensive as petrol and diesel. The efficiency is just as modest. Loud ADAC around 70 to 80 percent of the output energy arrives in e-cars. With e-fuels it is only ten to 15 percent. Incidentally, output energy in this case means the energy that is used in the process.

All countries in Europe have recognized this – except Germany and the FDP. On the other hand, against this background, the decision should fizzle out anyway. The FDP ultimately embarrassed Germany in order to push through something that is out of the question for the majority of the population anyway – except for the Porsche-driving rich.

Combustion off: The mystery of the FDP

Even the industry has recognized – albeit hesitantly at first – that classic combustion engines have no future. But the transport policy in Germany stands for “keep it up”. The problem: real innovators, be they battery manufacturers, developers of autonomous systems or e-car producers, are increasingly settling in other countries.

Germany is once again losing out on innovation and taxes – thanks be to the FDP. It remains a mystery – almost a denial of government and democracy – to stand in the way of this country and its progress. But that will hopefully take revenge after this legislative period.

This article is a comment. That is a form of journalism, which explicitly reflects the opinion of the author and not that of the magazine as a whole. Likewise, the commentary does not claim to be objective.

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