Saxony's energy minister criticizes calls for e-fuels in normal cars

Kretschmer: Don't put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to individual mobility

Kretschmer had welcomed the proposal by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) for exemptions for e-fuels from the ban on combustion engines by 2035. "Our climate policy must be competitive, open to technology and limited to a framework. Otherwise, we are jeopardizing our prosperity and acceptance among the population," he said. In fact, we should not put all our eggs in one basket when it comes to individual mobility, he said, as politicians do not know any better than the market and tens of millions of car drivers. The exemption for e-fuels could only be a first step.

Günther countered: there is no "end to the end of the combustion engine". The EU Commission President had merely announced that she would examine exemptions for the phase-out. Whether and the details are completely open. With statements about an end to combustion engines, people are being led to believe that cars are being taken away from them. But it is only about new registrations. People should also not be persuaded that e-fuels are a marketable product. "Behind such populist advances, however, there is another very serious problem. These constant backward rolls create uncertainty. And uncertainty harms the economy," emphasized Günther.