E-cars lead to a billion-euro grave - this is how expensive the transport transition is
Germany is facing a major challenge: according to a study by management consultants EY, the transport transition could turn out to be a billion-euro grave for the treasury. The switch to electric cars could cost the state around 50 billion euros by 2030. This is a huge sum that not only puts fiscal policy to the test, but also climate and environmental targets.
The results of the study are alarming: the majority of the shortfall, around 36 billion euros, could result from a reduction in revenue from mineral oil tax. The additional revenue from the electricity tax cannot compensate for these losses. To make matters worse, the federal government is subsidising company cars with electric drives, which will lead to further revenue shortfalls. Between 2024 and 2030, income tax revenue could fall by around 11.8 billion euros.
The transport transition is undoubtedly an important step in the fight against climate change. Electromobility is seen as the technology of the future for reducing CO2 emissions. But it also has its price.
The EY study shows that the transport transition will have a massive impact on government revenue. But what does this mean for Germany's and the EU's climate targets? Could the financial losses increase the pressure to soften or even postpone environmental targets?
The current status of electromobility indicates that it could be difficult to achieve the climate targets. How will politicians react to this challenge? Will it continue to promote electromobility despite financial losses? Or will it possibly shift the focus to other, more cost-effective solutions?
Another aspect that should not be neglected in the discussion is the low emission zones. The traffic turnaround could have an impact on them. If more electric cars are on the road, emissions in the environmental zones could fall. This could lead to the environmental zones being extended or even abolished. However, it is also possible that the introduction of further low emission zones could be delayed or even cancelled altogether due to the financial losses.
The EY study raises many questions and shows that the transport transition is a complex issue that involves not only technical, but also financial, political and social challenges. One thing is clear: the road to the transport transition is still rocky. It is therefore important that politics and business work together to find solutions to overcome these. After all, the transport transition is not just a question of finances, but also of sustainability and responsibility towards future generations.