Cars: FDP deputy Kubicki argues with Audi boss about electronic capabilities

Audi boss Gernot Döllner is promoting “a fully electric car portfolio at the beginning of the next decade” from the Ingolstadt-based automaker at Gut Kaltenbrunn. “We will see a transition to electric vehicles,” he said at the Ludwig Erhard Weimer Media Group Conference on Lake Tegernsee. The current debate about restraint in e-mobility is also partly a “German debate,” explained Döllner when asked by publisher and host Wolfram Weimer how concerned he was about the recent sales in the sector. “In China we had 25 percent sales of electric cars last year.”

Wolfgang Kubicki, Vice-President of the German Bundestag and Deputy Chairman of the FDP, was present at the next panel, where, together with him and Döllner, Hildegard Müller, President of the Automotive Industry Association (VDA) and Fabian Piontek, Partner and CEO in Alix Partners, also shared a different opinion. Kubicki questioned “whether a complete overhaul of e-mobility has a future.” “After the European elections, we will see that the combustion engine has a future,” Kubicki said.

Problems return to producers

“We have a CO2 law that can only be achieved with a certain amount of electricity,” replied Döllner. In the short term, there is no other competitive technology and it doesn’t work with e-fuels either. And compare returns between electric cars and combustion engines? “In fact, the return situation for electric cars is not the same at the moment as for combustion engines.” Then he is convinced “that we will still see some degree of equality in this decade.”

In any case, Kubicki wants to continue driving combustion engines for now. If he was traveling in Schleswig-Holstein, then it would be a problem with an electric car. The FDP politician said that he travels a lot and would like to reach his destination. In winter it is already a problem to drive an electric car from Berlin to Kiel. There are also safety features. If people suggested that he run as fast as possible if there is smoke in the car, that would not convince him that much. Another challenge, said Kubicki: “For fire safety reasons, we are not allowed to install charging stations in the underground parking lot of the Bundestag.

Kubicki’s problem with electric cars

“Here near the platform is an electric car with a range of 600 kilometers that can be charged to 80 percent in 21 minutes,” said Döllner. It’s a shame if Schleswig-Holstein doesn’t have the right charging infrastructure for this. Kubicki has a law firm in Kiel. Kubicki said he has nothing against people driving electric cars. But for long journeys it is a problem. You can focus on finding other fuels instead of relying on electric vehicles, he tried again with the topic of e-fuel. But it is his personal opinion. “You have a responsibility to make sure that your employees receive salaries,” said the FDP politician towards Döllner.

“We don’t have a unilateral strategy,” he defended himself Audi– The boss. He is aware that political stability does not exist in the target areas “because we need to make a completely linear decision.” When it comes to e-oils, one dimension is often forgotten. This makes sense if synthetic fuel can be produced in regions where green electricity is abundant. “But we’re not in Europe.”

“Incomparable in stupidity”

For the partner of Alix Partners Piontek, the question arose who “even wants to drive and own a car today”. He can only talk about his own company, but a few years ago all employees would have decided to rent a company car today only one third would do so. VDA President Müller opposed this. People under 25 now own more cars than ever before, he said.

At the same time, Kubicki was again angry about the state of the economy in the country. “The fact that Germany is giving ten billion euros to Intel, one of the most profitable companies in the world, cannot be surpassed in terms of stupidity.” There is a lot of strength in the German economy that can overcome all challenges. You just have to let people and not tell them what they can think.

You can watch the Ludwig Erhard Conference live www.leg-live.de song. You can find the ticker of the meeting here.

The article “Kubicki opposes Stromer and “full reform on e-mobility” is coming out. Business Punk.