Germany, the birthplace of BMW and Volkswagen, is set to outlaw the use of the internal combustion engine by 2030.
The Bundesrat, the legislative body made up of representatives from the country's sixteen federal states, voted to ban vehicles with gas and diesel engines by 2030 essentially working their way to a pollution-free Germany. That gives them fourteen years to shift from pollution-emitting engines to environment-friendly ones .
Pollution-Free Germany
The nation has already set a goal of lessening their CO2 emissions by 95 percent by 2050. This new proposal to ban internal combustion engines is just another step towards that goal. They previously allotted 1 billion Euros to a new incentive scheme that will encourage consumers to purchase electric cars. Currently, there are only around 50,000 electric vehicles and hybrids in the country. That's a small percentage considering Germany has 45 million cars. The incentive scheme aims to have 400,000 more electric cars on the road.
Bumps On The Road
The resolution still requires the approval of the European Union as drivers and vehicle owners from other member countries of the EU who drive to or through Germany will also be affected. The Bundesrat has asked the executive arm of the EU, the European Commission, to look into the "recent tax and contribution practices of Member States on the effectiveness in promoting zero-emission mobility." This move may mark the end of the low tax levels imposed on diesel fuel.
The non-binding proposal may come as a surprise considering the German nation is one of the leading manufacturers of automobiles in the world. In fact, it is the top automaker in Europe and ranks third worldwide.
Another issue being thrown at the resolution is that electric cars and hybrids require electricity. These vehicles are manufactured with the help of electricity and they also require electricity to charge their batteries. According to critics, the generation of electricity will increase carbon dioxide emissions.
As for the German automakers, they are anticipating this move by shifting their focus on producing and promoting their electric cars. Mercedes Benz, another car company in Germany, has plans to launch at least ten electric car models by 2025. Volkswagen indicated that they will produce at least twenty-four electric vehicles in the next ten years while BMW, which recently launched its 5 Series 2017, is planning a plug-in hybrid version of their 7 Series.
