Energy prices, refueling and drinking tea: the column “There and Away” – Travel

The year comes to an end. Let’s pause and remember the faded price boards above the Autobahn gas stations. These great symbols of social progress that have accompanied us on vacation for many years. Okay, gas was always more expensive than at home, but that didn’t curb our desire for distant beaches. Now more and more of these emotional landmarks are being removed and attached to the taps in a more modest form. Possibly because they cause too many accidents. Spellbound, incredulous and stunned, motorists stare at these giant signs for far too long. And bang: there was a bang. Just because fuel prices almost doubled overnight.

A quick reminder – and rubbing your eyes: Not so long ago, the combustion engine booze was dirt cheap even on the Autobahn. The first corona wave had rolled over the oil tankers like a storm. They languished for a while until their black soup was worth something again. Accordingly, the price boards at the gas stations became oversized indicators: will prices rise or fall, was the anxious question of all passing motorists. Who knew that he or she had signed up for a betting pool when buying a vehicle: It was only afterwards that it was clear whether you were a winner or a loser.

This is of course oversimplified. But at the latest at the gas station, the less self-sufficient person understands that he is a very small cog in a very large gear. And that the politicians, who like to pretend to be consumer advocates, also have no reliable plan. First they sell diesel for two decades as a universal tincture against high energy costs. Only to then admit that many of the expensive high-tech stinkers are unfortunately no longer allowed to drive into the cities – and as a result, unfortunately, unfortunately, are almost worthless. The consumer who is protected in this way suffers because the bottom line is that the economy drive was much more expensive than the funny six-cylinder petrol engine that he would have much preferred to have bought.

Purified in this way, we are now plunging into e-mobility because it saves a lot more energy – and because diesel was extremely expensive in the meantime. But the petrol station owners and network operators have also learned something new: There are no sky-storming price tables on the newly installed fast charging stations, and you can hardly see anything on the mini displays anyway. So much the better, otherwise the sky-storming electricity prices might bother you. They have now (more than) doubled again, which makes the operation of heat pumps, electric cars and other high technologies what? A bet on the future, of course. Outcome uncertain.

And what about the electricity bill?

But everything will be fine in the end: “People around the world are even more optimistic about technology and place even more trust in it than they did last year,” says the new Bosch technology compass. Three quarters of respondents in Brazil, China, Germany, France, UK, India and the US believe technology makes the world a better place. Good to know, not all creeds can show such numbers of confessors. Only: what good does that do for the individual who has just sold off his old diesel and now sees the gas prices falling again – while he is waiting for a hefty electricity bill?

These are undoubtedly individual fates. And those who believe in progress are suffering for a good cause: Possibly because the energy from wind and sun is now being expanded at breakneck speed and is therefore becoming cheaper. Who knows? Perhaps one should believe in progress – and do nothing at all. Just wait, drink tea and skip a round of this ludo game.