When politicians are confronted with questions about the sense and nonsense of electric cars, one answer is heard particularly often: the industry has long since decided in favor of e-mobility, it is already "much more advanced". However, that is not true. The industry is being forced by politics to favor e-mobility. But now, after BMW, another manufacturer is breaking away from the herd of those who uncritically see battery mobility as the only technology that can save lives.

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FDP Minister of Transport Volker Wissing didn't really fall over, but stumbled violently. One can speak of amateurish, even clumsy communication on the part of the minister, who had to take back a red hot statement just a day later in the Bundestag. If rowing back were an Olympic discipline, Wissing would certainly be a medal contender.

"In the foreseeable future we will not have enough e-fuels to operate the cars with combustion engines that are now registered," the minister told the "Tagesspiegel" on the role of synthetic fuels generated with electricity. Actually a tough rejection of the combustion engine. In the election program of FDP it said: "Synthetic fuels are an alternative for all types of transport that can be used in internal combustion engines."  Read full article ... (475 words)

It has been 75 years since the Volkswagen factory almost became the spoils of war for the British in 1947. The largely unknown story of a grandiose misjudgment.

From Harald Kaiser

The process was guarded like a state secret. The investigation into the British that was at stake was extremely explosive in terms of industry and global politics. None of the other three victorious powers of defeated Germany, the USA, the USSR and France, were allowed to get wind of the intentions shortly after the end of World War II. Otherwise desires might have been aroused.  Read full article ... (1446 words)

Every time I step on the gas in the Audi S4 TDI, the groundhog says hello. It nods to me and asks: What do you want with a battery-powered car when you enjoy this diesel so much and mercilessly demonstrate its qualities to you in all of the car tester criteria? Namely: sheer endless range, a euphoric acceleration thump and with all the dynamism a pronounced gas station phobia: The Audi S4 TDI offers everything your driver's heart desires. And even your environmental awareness will be satisfied with the strict Euro 6d emissions standard.

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The trend towards e-mobility is partly a sham. Even if statistics keep claiming that “E” is booming, that's only superficially. Because many statistics include plug-in hybrids, which are usually powered by a combustion engine in everyday life. The trend would long be over without governmental, better still, stately funding. Because technology openness is required, ARAL is working intensively on both the expansion of e-charging stations and e-fuels for combustion engines.

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So far, humanity has shot six cars at the moon. One is still driving. The story of the insane race to mobilize the moon began more than half a century ago.

From Harold Kaiser

Only 80 meters? That sounds like a hop, a no-brainer. In any case, after a distance that can be covered by car in a minute. At least if you apply an earthly standard. But not on the moon with its special conditions. The Chinese moon car Jadehase 2 is facing this seemingly ridiculous trip. It is the only one of seven international vehicles that is still cruising around on Earth's satellite. The other six from the USA, Russia and one more from China (Jadehase 1) are now retired.  Read full article ... (3091 words, 2 images)

Yes, there is, but the trend is a sham. Even if statistics keep saying that “E” is booming, that's only superficially. Many statistics include plug-in hybrids, which are mostly powered by a combustion engine, because buyers want to take the state premium with them (shouldn't it be called “impressive premium”?) Or simply want to drive partially electric without worrying about range.  Read full article ... (223 words)

Why Tesla has to forego a government grant of more than one billion euros, even though it was previously applied for. Elon Musk gives the do-gooders.

From Harald Kaiser

The Lord is once again making a powerful impression - at least with those often uncritical admirers who are hanging on his lips anyway. They think he's honest. Tesla boss and electric car guru Elon Musk, who is as dazzling as it is unpredictable, recently tweeted that he was foregoing 1,1 billion euros in state dough to set up his own battery production in his new car factory in Grünheide / Brandenburg. The unformulated subtext should probably read: We don't need that.  Read full article ... (1189 words)

It is surprising how even the former central body of the full throttle friends “auto motor und sport” is subtly car-critical. Some things could also be in the car-hostile "taz".

To my amazement, Digital Editor-in-Chief Jochen Knecht wrote in the Moove Letter a little polemically against the statements of the designated Transport Minister Volker Wissing. He threw "diesel smoke candles". Knecht writes: “That he is Lawyer for motorists sees, is only based on the interpretation of the colleagues from SPIEGEL, his approach to lower the vehicle tax for diesel vehicles in order to at least partially offset the burdens from the current high energy prices, but as expected, causes a lot of frustration among the rest of the traffic light parties . "  Read full article ... (515 words)

Comment from Peter Schwerdtmann

Every second German wants to “rely on electricity” the next time they buy a car, according to the results of its survey from the energy producer E.ON Energie Deutschland. On the same day, “strategy &”, part of the American analysis and forecasting network PwC, reports: “The e-car market share in Germany doubles in the first three quarters.” Dozens of other surveys come to similar results - all reality or an attempt to shape reality? Wishful Thinking or Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?  Read full article ... (963 words)

Models like the Golf GTD should actually be banned in a politically correct manner. Because they take every thought of an electrically powered battery-powered vehicle to absurdity.

However, it is not to be expected that Volkswagen will destroy its strategy for electromobility with this model. But it is also clear: Anyone who buys a Golf GTD today can be sure that they have made a good decision despite rising fuel prices. Also in terms of the environment.  Read full article ... (937 words, 3 images)

BMW boss Oliver Zipse is not an opportunist. In the Spiegel interview, he shows his backbone and leaves the two Spiegel editors with their biased questions in the void. Although BMW cannot escape the imposed pressure on e-mobility either, Zipse makes it clear that the politically desired change to e-mobility cannot be forced.

Oliver Zipse admits that in addition to a fully electric iX, he also drives a 7 Series with a combustion engine. When asked whether he would recommend his customers switch to e-mobility in view of rising gasoline prices, he points out that electricity prices are also rising. It would be a mistake to commit to a single type of drive prematurely. The entire CO applies₂- Consider a car's footprint along the entire supply chain, from production to disposal. BMW wanted the CO₂- Reduce footprint by 2030 percent by 40 compared to 2019. By 2030, BMW wants to generate 50 percent of sales worldwide with all-electric cars. The success of e-mobility also depends on the expansion of the charging infrastructure, which currently has to grow five times faster.  Read full article ... (1314 words)

Speed, speed! How strong Volkswagen is now and how VW CEO Herbert Diess is putting his developers under pressure.

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