Three weeks after the Diesel summit, the Minister of the environment considers the results of which are inadequate. Therefore, the SPD calls for the politician, Barbara Hendricks, retrofits – for the latest Diesel cars.
The room on the fifth floor of the Ministry of the environment is full, it may be due to the infamous summer hole in political Berlin, that so many journalists came. But also on the duration of the Diesel scandal. At the beginning of August the government had held with the Auto industry in Berlin a Diesel-summit. The most important result at that time: About five million Diesel vehicles that emit significantly more nitrogen oxides than permitted by the standard of the European Union, will receive an Update of the exhaust-gas-Software.
“Six percent is too little.”
Three weeks later, Minister of the environment Barbara Hendricks (SPD) explains that this and the other on the summit, the measures agreed in the best case, lead to a reduction of the nitrogen oxides by six percent. Has the Minister by the experts of the Federal environment Agency (UBA) in Dessau calculate. Six percent is too little: “The population in the German cities, has a right to clean air. Therefore, we need measures that lead to a rapid reduction of the nitrogen oxide pollution. The Diesel-summit was a first step, which urgently need more and bigger steps must follow.”
Specifically, this means: Even the very latest Diesel cars do not need to be retrofitted according to the view of Hendricks, a mere Update of the control software. Anyway, the Minister advises consumers prefer no Diesel to buy more cars, when the manufacturer entice now, with premiums for the purchase of new cars: “For the environment, it is best if the premium to be motivated to buy small and economical cars.”
Bad times for Diesel drivers, even if the Fuel is cheap: Even the very latest cars exceed the limit values
And further: “about electric cars, Hybrid and gas – powered, fuel-efficient gasoline or advanced Diesel, which have low real-world emissions on the road.” Elsewhere, the SPD makes a politician, but clear: Even the latest Diesel cars by Euro standard 6 is exceeded, without retrofitting the limits.
Poor air quality in 70 cities
The President of the Federal environment Agency Maria Krautzberger presented a study on the meager results of the Diesel-meeting three weeks ago: “For almost 70 German cities, the measures will not be enough probably in order to reduce the air under the limit value of 40 micrograms of nitrogen oxide in the year. Only in 20 cities, which are currently just above the limit, will lead to the decisions of the Diesel-summit, since 2010, the current EU limit values finally complied with.”
Hendricks had convened the Diesel-summit, together with transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). For a long time, he was accused of being too lenient on the scandals, and Diesel cars, such as the deliberate deception of the consumer with the cheat Software to stop responding.
On the Diesel summit three weeks ago: Barbara Hendricks (SPD) and Alexander Dobrindt (CSU)
Has Hendricks spoke now currently with him about your latest findings? “Yes, briefly, on the sidelines of the session of the government this Morning,” said the Minister, somewhat tight-lipped.
VDA: retrofitting is not often
The policy sit the dishes in the neck. Recently had the administrative court in Stuttgart for driving bans, when the limit values are not adhered to. The thrust of Hendricks, the German Association of the automotive industry (VDA) responds promptly: “Only three weeks after the summit, no occasion for After-adjustments”, – said in a statement. All retrofits were “in width is technically not feasible, because of the variety of the affected models of the space for the installation of the necessary parts is missing.”
The dispute between the government and the economy about the consequences of the Diesel-scandal seems to be in the next round.