Historically, less economically rich countries have been the “dumping ground” of older, “out of date” vehicles from Europe, the US, and Japan. It’s been a major concern of those of us with a bit of a global perspective as these regions electrify. Will markets like Ethiopia still receive millions of … [continued]
The “Climate Chancellor” needs to draw a line between national disputes and what has already been agreed with Germany’s international partners.
Every diesel vehicle over 10 years old is now effectively banned from operating in any part of the entire city area of Stuttgart, home to Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and 630,000 residents. The move signals the first serious diesel ban in any German city. A mid-year review of the resulting pollution rates will decide if many of the remaining diesels, older than 5 years, will also be banned from 2020.
The German auto industry has been through quite a scandal surrounding dieselgate. But that’s not stopping some from clinging to diesel. The Verge reports, “Germany is divided about the future of its most important industry: while some automakers pursue electric vehicles, a noisy group of diesel-energy enthusiasts are expressing their frustration through protests. These have gone on every weekend so far this year.”
Jaguar Land Rover sales have fallen off a cliff, largely because many of its vehicles are powered by diesel engines. It is struggling to convert to electric cars but will it have enough money to do so? Meanwhile, it expects to layoff 5,000 employees next year.
Up to 1.3 million older diesel cars in Germany could be barred from driving in 43 cities and towns if recent court orders are enforced.
The CEO of Royal Dutch Shell has joined the call to move the date of the UK;’s ban on internal combustion engines forward, which would give his company a clearer idea about how to plan for the future.
The head of the prominent German environmental advocacy group DUH, Juergen Resch, was recently quoted as saying that German Chancellor Angela Merkel was being “remotely controlled” by the country’s auto industry.
The federal government of Germany is looking to avoid the diesel car bans and usage restrictions in the country — on every level of government, whether regional or city level — German Chancellor Angela Merkel was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
The government of Germany is now considering the creation of a new joint-fund with the country’s auto manufacturers as a means of funding the retrofit of diesel cars in the country so as to reduce emissions.
