It has been said numerous times that German automakers are upset with European proposals which would limit CO₂ output to around 120 grams per kilometer. Perhaps we shouldn't be lumping Volkswagen or its subsidiaries into that category. Martin Winterkorn, CEO of VW, has admitted that the VW brands, including luxury carmaker Audi, can achieve those low carbon standards. In fact, Winterkorn believes that the standards are achievable today, not by 2015 as proposals would require. Technologies which would allow the low carbon output are already being used. Direct injection and turbocharging are quickly becoming a staple of automakers like Volkswagen and Audi since those technologies allow the production of more power and the reduction of fuel consumption.

Another interesting tidbit from Winterkorn is that he believes that plug-in electric vehicles will become the fuel-saving technology of choice in the coming years. As you may be aware, Germany gets the vast majority of its power from coal, which is an extremely dirty process. For this reason, the VeeDub leader suggests that the country take a look at nuclear for its power needs.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd.]

The German automakers, through their lobbying group VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie), say they're no longer against the European Commission plan to require a reduction in vehicle CO₂ emission to 120 g/km. Reuters reports that the German companies - most notably BMW, Daimler and VW - agree that 120 is a good target, but are still holding out to have that limit imposed in 2015 instead of 2012. The VDA isn't all of a sudden totally on the side of the EU regulators, and VDA President Matthias Wissmann said in a statement that, "The Commission's proposal is not innovation friendly enough, is too fixated on engine technology, too inflexible, particularly in its timetable, and too fixated on penalties." Still, getting the VDA to say that 120 grams per kilometer is the right target is a good thing. We'll see how they feel when they hear that the goalposts might get moved to 95 g/km.

[Source: Reuters]

Few would argue that Germany is known for its cars, as well as for their high-speed roadways. Manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have a well-deserved reputation for building awe-inspiring cars ... which also emit plenty of polllutants into the air. Keeping these facts in mind, we have a hard time imagining German politicians riding around in hybrid cars, let alone bicycles. Still, "It's just embarrassing when all parties preach climate protection and then drive around Berlin in fat luxury cars," says Winfried Hermann, the Green Party's transport spokesman. In order to make the transition from Porsche's to pedals, the Green Party wants the Bundestag (those with seats in Parliament) to trade in their current cars for hybrids and to have access to the rental bicycles available in cities across Germany.

[Source: Spiegel Online]