“In Austria, more than 300,000 jobs directly and indirectly depend on the car industry,” said Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) before the car summit in the Chancellery on Wednesday. The added value amounts to 27 billion euros. Nehammer has been very committed to e-fuels lately and received a lot of criticism for it.
According to many experts, the use of synthetic fuels is not energy efficient compared to electric cars. “Today’s event in particular is intended to show that we are intensively involved with science,” said Nehammer. You no longer have to rule out technology because you have to think in longer terms. Much more could be possible in ten years, for example the efficiency of the use of e-fuels could be much better. In this context, the Chancellor also referred to electric cars whose range has greatly improved over the years.
The Austrian market must be kept so interesting “for innovation, research and production” that “large industrial companies invest here”. Nehammer had already visited the BMW factory in Steyr (Upper Austria) on Tuesday, where production for electric motors is currently being set up.
ÖAMTC welcomes initiative
Bernhard Wiesinger, head of the interest group ÖAMTC, welcomed the initiative of the highest government as a participant in the car summit. “Striving for openness to technology is an important signal, because on the one hand e-mobility is undeniably an important part of this future. On the other hand, we are not going to achieve the climate goals in transport with e-cars alone. Because we would need 2.5 million e-cars on Austrian roads by 2030 – and there is currently no indication that such numbers can be met,” he said. The chairman of the Sustainable Fuels Platform, Johannes Schmuckenschlager, also applauds Nehammer’s action.
Latest generation color promotion
As reported, criticism came from, among others, the opposition parties FPÖ, SPÖ and NEOS. Activists from the Last Generation group sprayed the facade of the Federal Chancellery in Vienna with an oily black liquid. It is said to have been a mix of water, guar gum and washable, non-toxic paint. As expected, other organizations such as Global 2000 and Greenpeace also criticized the event.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
