EPP group vows to revise combustion engine ban ‘as soon as possible’
EPP group vows to revise combustion engine ban ‘as soon as possible’
A leaked election manifesto of the centre-right European People’s Party group (EPP) vows to “revise” the combustion engine phase-out, raising questions as to whether hard-won Green Deal laws will unravel in the wake of a more conservative EU.
The EPP could rebrand as the automotive party at this point.
I know it's off-topic, but if you want to know how Hungary got where it is, look no further than the EPP and how much car manufacturers (and others) are nearshoring to Hungary. No worker's rights, no Euro so that pay can be inflated even more. Funnily enough, Hungary is actually importing immigrants en masse, despite fighting the "migrant crisis" being Fidesz's main policy point.
Most of the EU's biggest woes can be traced back to the EPP's neoliberal agenda.
Aww damn it. I was considering gritting my teeth and voting for the EPP because I want to keep v.d.Leyen, but I can't vote for this. I'm not a conservative but I like VDL and iirc she will only stay president if her party is the biggest.
It was to be expected. Not only there is a lot of lobbying from the car manufacturer, but the reality is that the electric grid isn't ready yet for a "full electric transition" and unless we start massive investment in Nuclear/Renewable (Not just one nuclear power plant, every so and on and some parking with solar panels, we need to deal with old power plants closing, and replacing all the fossil fuel used in automotive it's a huge program) we can't switch to electric
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And there is also an unknown amount you can subtract from that demand which is the massive electric pumps that pump fuel into those ICE cars and between tanks in the petrol stations and from the depots into tankers that will no longer be needed.
Not with that attitude 😎
and unless we start massive investment in
Nuclear/Renewable (Not just onenuclearpower plant, every so and on and some parking with solar panels, we need to deal with old power plants closing, and replacing all the fossil fuel used in automotive it’s a huge program) we can’t switch to electricsFtfy
While renewable sources are awesome, they are still not as reliable as the other solutions. You still need a baseline to keep your grid up at night, when the wind wanes or during droughts (depending on your renewable source of choice). Nuclear is the next best thing. Low CO2, safe and cheap in the long run. If everyone in the EU was as commited to nuclear as countries like France, Finland and Belgium are we could get reliably cheap power everywhere, which would be an amazing asset for our future industrial growth!
I am really conflicted about this. On one hand I get that green policies are instrumental in stopping climate change before it's too late. On the other I know some people who work in the automotive industry and they all agree that we shot ourselves in the foot with this regulation. We ended up being the only committed
nationblock (whatever) while anyone else (namely China, India and the USA) kept doing little or nothing, token contributions if any, but few long run plans like we did.Surely there is lots of lobbying from the car industry behind this EPP decision, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was also the genuine intention of many voters. Our industry is already falling behind, being the only ones concerned with green policies isn't helpful at all, it just allows everyone else to outcompete us.
the others aren't doing anything to stop climate change, so we don't have to either
That is how they argue in kindergarten
I am really conflicted about this. On one hand I get that green policies are instrumental in stopping climate change before it’s too late. On the other I know some people who work in the automotive industry and they all agree that we shot ourselves in the foot with this regulation. We ended up being the only committed nation block (whatever) while anyone else (namely China, India and the USA) kept doing little or nothing, token contributions if any, but few long run plans like we did.
Someone needs to lead the way. How is being more virtuous shooting ourselves in the foot, exactly?
How is being more virtuous shooting ourselves in the foot, exactly?
Let me clarify. It's great on an environmental standpoint, it's quite terrible on an industrial and commercial one. If we are the only ones imposing climate regulation, businesses and industries will move abroad where it's cheaper to operate. I'm not saying scrapping the green deal laws is a good thing, but I am saying that I can see the logic behind it. And it's not because of the evil capitalism either, it's a desperate attempt for European industry to stay relevant on the global stage.
We ended up being the only committed nation block (whatever) while anyone else (namely China, India and the USA) kept doing little or nothing, token contributions if any, but few long run plans like we did.
If the EU played it that way on every issue, it would be a much shittier place to live.
A great example is the worker protections many of us enjoy here. We could be more competitive with shittier countries on that front and drive down worker benefits and quality of life, but who wants to live like the working class in China or even a lot of the US? It's god awful. Doing all your policy based on the desires of industry is a recipe for dystopia.
So you are only ready to do the only right thing as soon as all the others are on board? How about doing the right thing regardless?
It prohibits sales of fossil fuel cars in the EU to final customers. Companies can still design them and sell them abroad. There is nothing illegal about that. What this does do is bring EU auto makers into a position, where they have to invest into green technologies. The important thing is that it is the right thing to do and we know how. So if we do not do it, other countries will and by being the leaders, we will have the best technology or at least have a good shot at it.
Obviously a lot of suppliers are going to have problems with it. When you built combustion engines, you have a hard time transitioning. However we also have demographic labour shortages, which means that it is a good step for us.