According to the automotive industry, the path to climate-neutral road traffic by 2045 must also be secured by stricter requirements for the mineral oil industry. The Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) adopted in the European Union (EU) at the end of last year is not ambitious enough, the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) said on Wednesday. The federal government must tighten up its implementation in national law. “Politicians are called upon to establish incentives for the ramp-up of renewable energy sources and thus to guarantee and promote investment,” explained VDA President Hildegard Müller. The automotive industry wants to ensure that, in addition to electric cars, fuels such as biofuels and e-fuels come onto the market in sufficient quantities to make the existing fleets of combustion engine cars climate-friendly.
Because even if the federal government were to reach the target of 15 million electric cars by 2030, there would still be 40 million cars with petrol or diesel engines. BMW boss Oliver Zipse recently demanded: “Just as politicians are demanding electrification by the automotive industry, they should also demand that the fuel industry also offer CO₂-free electricity, hydrogen and CO₂-neutral fuels.” The long-term goal of RED III is to switch completely to renewable energies in all sectors by 2050. Germany wants to achieve this by 2045. But the VDA fears that initial milestones by 2030 will not create enough incentive for the mineral oil industry to invest in the production of climate-friendly fuels.
The EU target calls for a share of renewable energy, i.e. charging current and fuels, of at least 29 percent by 2030, or a reduction in greenhouse gases of 14.5 percent compared to the amount of fossil fuels required. Germany has already decided on a higher reduction rate of 25 percent – the VDA believes 35 percent is necessary instead. The EU regulation also provides for a quota of 5.5 percent for biofuels and at least one percent for synthetic fuel, which manufacturers must supply. For the latter, the VDA demands at least five percent. Further interim targets should also be decided on for greenhouse gas reductions of 60 percent by 2035, 90 percent by 2040 and 100 percent by 2045. “In the interests of climate protection, fossil fuels should no longer be allowed to be sold at German petrol stations from 2045,” the association explained.