E-cars as climate saviours?
There is great hope in electric cars: to remain mobile without harming the environment or the health of others. But can the electric car deliver what it promises? Scepticism is growing. Here is an overview.
January 2021
Can e-fuels save combustion engines?
The new Euro 7 standard will effectively ban combustion engines from 2025. A synthetic fuel that is climate-friendly and yet can be used for internal combustion engines is supposed to save the traditional engine. But production and costs are causing problems.
Only zero-emission trucks by 2040
The truck industry criticises the EU's targets as too lax. They themselves want to put 200,000 zero-emission trucks on the roads by 2030 and are calling for tougher rules for diesel trucks. The targets are ambitious, but possible with the help of the EU, which is letting the industry down.
USA plans e-car revolution
The new US president has announced a new era for American carmakers. He is fully committed to the conversion to e-cars. In contrast to the EU, however, he does not want to initiate this with driving bans for internal combustion engines, but rather promote e-cars through subsidies and incentives.
Digital monitoring of environmental zones
A new law is to make it possible to scan number plates in Germany to prosecute criminal offences. This could also lead to digital monitoring of vehicles in German low emission zones. Other EU states are leading the way.
Environmental zones as lifesavers
About 400,000 people in Europe die every year as a result of air pollution. Environmental zones are already helping to make the air cleaner. But the limits set by the World Health Organisation are still far from being met.
Air pollution remains high
Air pollutants have decreased less than initially estimated due to the Corona pandemic. Favourable weather conditions also played a role. This year, therefore, an increase is very likely and could spur driving bans again.
Corona supports diesel driving bans
The pandemic is also hitting the automotive industry hard. Filter systems for old diesel vehicles could not be installed last year as planned. So the dirty diesel vehicles continue to contribute to bad air and make diesel driving bans inevitable.
Paris relies on video surveillance
Controls in the Paris Low Emission Zone are to be automated this year. Drivers who enter the Paris metropolitan area with an unauthorised sticker can then be identified and penalised by camera systems.
Saudi Arabia plans 170 km long environmental zone
A green city of millions is to be built on the Red Sea, where there are no conventional roads and cars are completely banned. The project is controversial, but it could be a blueprint for the mobility revolution in large cities in Europe as well.
