Environment minister svenja schulze wants to make the purchase of heavy cars with high fuel consumption more expensive in order to protect the climate – electric vehicles, on the other hand, are to become less expensive.
The SPD politician told the german press agency: "I think it would be very good if those who buy the gross gas-guzzling cars, who simply pay a little more, simply get a surcharge." This could then be deducted from small, less expensive cars. This could make electric cars cheaper so more people buy them. Schulze said she thought such a "bonus-malus system" was a "very, very good idea".
This is also the decision of the SPD, said schulze with reference to the last SPD party conference. "Such regulations could be made."There is certainly still a need for regulation in detail. "But the system is feasible. Today we also pay premiums for those who buy electric vehicles."
In september, the black-red coalition agreed on a reform of vehicle tax in its climate protection program. This is to be geared more closely to CO2 emissions and thus provide a further incentive to buy e-cars. A draft bill from the federal ministry of finance is still pending.
The grunen and the bund fur umwelt und naturschutz deutschland (BUND) buried schulze’s statements. BUND transport expert jens hilgenberg told dpa on saturday: "the introduction of a bonus-malus system that makes the purchase of gas-guzzlers more expensive is an essential instrument for reducing CO2 emissions from road traffic. If you really want to protect the climate, you can’t keep subsidizing the "old world" with billions of taxpayer dollars subsidize diesel and gasoline cars."
Grunen faction leader anton hofreiter said: "the advantages of a bonus-malus system are obvious. If we reform the car tax in such a way that it makes environmentally harmful cars more expensive and environmentally friendly cars less expensive, that would be a powerful, fast-acting and, above all, socially just lever for the climate and the traffic turnaround."Hofreiter said he now expects more from the federal government than just nice ideas and announcements. "As long as environment minister schulze does not assert herself with such proposals against transport minister scheuer and the rest of the cabinet, her announcements will remain PR maneuvers."
Criticism came from the FDP: "with her populist proposal, environment minister schulze has once again missed the point on climate protection by miles," said climate policy expert lukas kohler. "For the climate, it is not the size of the car that is relevant, but only how much CO2 is actually emitted."
For germany to meet its 2030 climate targets, the transport sector in particular must deliver. Many experts doubt that the measures adopted so far will be sufficient, such as a stronger government requirement for the purchase of e-cars. CO2 emissions from traffic have hardly decreased in the past few years, also due to higher traffic volumes. In addition, there has been a boom in sales of suvs, heavy-duty sport utility vehicles, for years.
Germany wants to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases that are harmful to the climate by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. In the transport sector, emissions should be reduced by 40 to 42 percent.
Since the beginning of the year, a climate protection law has prescribed fixed annual CO2 budgets for the individual sectors of transport, energy, agriculture, construction, industry, waste management and others. Ministers have to step up their game if their area misses targets. There is also the threat of heavy fines to the EU if mandatory targets are not met.
In the coming months and years, car manufacturers plan to offer numerous e-cars, also in the mass market. This is also necessary so that the manufacturers can comply with EU requirements. The federal government believes that seven to ten million electric cars are needed in germany by 2030 to meet climate protection targets. Politicians had announced their intention to promote electromobility with higher purchase premiums and a more accessible charging infrastructure.