Politicians increasingly favor eco-friendly automobiles
German Environmental Aid Reveals Car Emissions of Top Politicians
According to a recent analysis by the German Environmental Aid (DUH), 87 out of Germany’s top 238 politicians drive an electric vehicle, with a notable difference in the choice of vehicles among federal ministers and state premiers.
The report reveals that 4 of 11 federal ministers drive fully electric cars, including Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan, Education Minister Karin Prien, Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, and Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger. On the other hand, 7 federal ministers use plug-in hybrids, such as Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer, and Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig.
However, the analysis shows a different picture among the 16 state premiers, with only one, Winfried Kretschmann of Baden-Württemberg, driving a fully electric car.
The DUH's analysis assumes that plug-in hybrids are used mostly in combustion mode, but it's unclear whether top politicians and their fleet management actually do so. The report also notes that many top politicians have several cars at their disposal, but only one vehicle per politician was counted. The vehicles of Chancellor Friedrich Merz and some other federal ministers were not evaluated due to their heavy armor.
The DUH's analysis reveals that many of these official vehicles emit more CO2 than an average car currently registered in Germany. Last year, Hamburg's Mayor Peter Tschentscher was listed with an electric car, but this time he is listed with a plug-in hybrid.
The DUH has criticized the lack of a consistent shift towards more environmentally friendly official vehicles in the federal government. The organization has noted that Germany's top politicians are still relying on a significant number of climate-damaging official vehicles.
References: [1] German Environmental Aid (DUH) report, 2022.
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