Brandenburg's economy warns: EU ban on combustion engines could be catastrophic!

Brandenburg's economy warns: EU ban on combustion engines could be catastrophic!

Brandenburg's economy is concerned about the EU's plans to introduce a general ban on combustion vehicles, especially rental and company cars, by 2030. The President of the IHK Potsdam, Ina Hänsel, warns of the need for technological openness and calls for the approval of biofuels, hydrogen and modern plug-in hybrids even after 2030. The craft association fears that an early implementation of the ban on combustion engines would have significant negative effects, especially for craft businesses.

According to one study, up to 60 percent of new car sales could be affected by these EU plans, raising the need for clear and practical transition regulations. A spokesman for the EU Commission confirmed that an impact assessment of the CO₂ standards for company fleets is currently being worked on, but no political decisions have yet been made. While the EU Commission plans to present corresponding proposals in late summer, the German Federal Ministry of Transport has already signaled its rejection of the ban.

Infrastructure and costs as central issues

A central topic in the discussion is the lack of infrastructure for electric cars. There are currently no installed charging stations for the planned nationwide fast charging network in Brandenburg. According to Ralph Bührig, General Manager of HWK Potsdam, the lack of charging infrastructure is a critical problem for the implementation of the EU ideas. The high purchase costs of electric vehicles further exacerbate the difficulties. The Automobile Club of Germany (AVD) also criticizes the high financial burden that companies could face.

Larger companies such as “Orafol” are also leading the discussion about the planned transformation to e-mobility. The EU plans do not currently identify this as a relevant topic. Nevertheless, many craft businesses hope that they will not be affected by the regulation and are calling on the EU to set clear targets in order to eliminate existing uncertainties.

Market influence and criticism

Critics of the planned measures, including MEP Jens Gieseke, fear that such a ban could represent massive interference in the market, which in turn would endanger jobs. Rental car providers such as Sixt describe the ban as impractical and warn of higher rental costs due to insufficient charging density in the EU. The Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) also expresses concerns and calls for significant improvements in the charging infrastructure in order to adequately address the potential challenges for companies.

This topic makes it clear that Brandenburg's economy and many industry players have a strong interest in setting the right course for sustainable mobility while at the same time protecting the economic interests of companies. maz-online.de and tagesschau.de report in detail on the current developments and positions that become clear in the course of this discussion.