dependence on Russia
Foot off the gas to save energy: the debate about the speed limit is picking up speed (again).
Speed limit as a measure to save energy? Associations call for this in order to minimize dependency on Russian oil and gas
© Jens Büttner/zb/DPA
The gas dispute with Russia could come to a head, the federal government has called on consumers and companies to save energy. A debate flares up again that was held before the federal election: Is a speed limit needed?
Germany wants to reduce its dependency on Russian energy supplies – which is why calls for a speed limit on motorways are becoming louder. The general manager of the German Association of Cities, Helmut Dedy, told the German Press Agency: “From now on we have to look even more closely at energy consumption. That’s why we are calling for a speed limit to be checked now. This would allow us to immediately leverage savings potential.”
A Russian gas or oil supply stop is a realistic scenario, said Dedy. “We don’t want hysteria, but we do want people and the economy to be more aware that a large-scale crisis can happen.”
Jens Hilgenberg, head of transport policy at the federal environmental association, told the DPA: “In order to reduce dependence on energy imports, immediate success in saving energy must be achieved. In the transport sector, effective short-term measures such as a general speed limit of 100 km/h on motorways to implement car-free Sundays and short-haul flights immediately.”
Traffic light coalition decides no speed limit
During the coalition negotiations of the traffic light parties SPD, Greens and FDP, the introduction of a general speed limit on German autobahns failed due to resistance from the liberals. A speed limit as a way of saving energy was also missing from a package of measures recently decided by the coalition leaders.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) announced the early warning level of a gas emergency plan on Wednesday, the first of three levels. This is intended to strengthen precautions for a possible Russian delivery stop. The appeal went to consumers and companies to save energy. The Ministry of Economic Affairs emphasized that the security of supply is currently still guaranteed. From Habeck’s point of view, the payment of gas deliveries in rubles demanded by Russia is a breach of supply contracts.
The cities supported the early warning level declared by Habeck, according to Dedy. “We must take precautions at all levels and with all available means to prepare for a supply stop from Russia. This applies both strategically and practically.”
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“People now have to consume less”
“Wirtschaftswise” Veronika Grimm said on Wednesday that it was important to set signals that indicated that there could be an explosive situation if Russian energy supplies were to be stopped. Such a signal could be the introduction of a general speed limit on motorways.
“People now have to consume less,” said Monika Schnitzer, like Grimm also a member of the Advisory Council for the Assessment of Overall Economic Development. This could be done, for example, by carpooling, driving more slowly and using local public transport if possible, said the economist.
On the motorway in particular, consumption per kilometer depends heavily on the speed driven. According to the Federal Environment Agency, for example, a typical vehicle traveling at 90 kilometers per hour uses 23 percent less fuel than at a speed of 110 kilometers per hour.
Environmental groups have been calling for the introduction of a general speed limit for a long time. Three weeks ago, the environmental organization Greenpeace proposed short-term measures to reduce Germany’s oil consumption – and thus its dependence on Russian oil imports. This includes the introduction of a temporary speed limit of 100 km/h on motorways, 80 km/h on country roads and 30 km/h in cities for the duration of the conflict. This could improve traffic flow, reduce consumption-intensive speed changes and increase the efficiency of internal combustion engines.