cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/46045941
“We need a reality check. Otherwise we are heading at full speed against a wall,” Mercedes chief executive Ola Kaellenius told the Handelsblatt business daily of the 2035 goal, adding that Europe’s car market could “collapse” if it goes ahead.
Reality is that we don’t have much oil here in Europe it makes no sense to use a ressource we don’t have
We habe a little oil in Europe. We have absolutely no rare earth metals for batteries. Either way we have to import the stuff we need!
we have shittons of rare earth metals, but we also don’t want to dig them up because of the health risks and environmental damage. we pay other people to tank that.
We do have many of them. We just have chosen not to mine them because that creates environmental and health issues and we can obtain them from elsewhere. When we mine them here, then mostly in remote places.
Cobalt: Top producer is DRC, Europe has a minor local production, mostly in Finnland Lithium: Abundant everywhere but difficult to extract, the EU doesn’t produce any significant quantities right now Nickel: Only 1.5% produced in EU, again mostly in Finnland Maganese: This is the only metal relevant for current batteries where there are no (known) significant deposits in central EU, some are around the black sea, industrial production is nonexistent.
Where the EU is already more present is in the refining of the raw ores. I think the current situation is, while not great, acceptable. As long as many different producers of the rare metals are available and the EU creates reserves of them (it does), it is fine to be dependent on imports for the moment.
IMO he should “get on a bike”. Literally. I keep walking…
I don’t know what the law says, but prohibiting circulation of CO2 cars in 10 years is excessive, it would cause a crisis where people stop buying cars that are still being produced and no one would buy those used cars. Prohibiting the selling of new CO2 emitting cars in 10 years seems like a very good thing, and gives plenty of time for the industry to adapt.
Banning sales of fossil fuel cars after 2035 is exactly the plan.
No. Banning sales of non-zero emission plans is the plan, it doesn’t specifically ban combustion engines. Combustion engine tech has stagnated like the last 4 decades, though, so it’s highly unlikely they’ll be zero emission within 10 years.
This is car manufacturers complaining that they haven’t made steps forward for 40 years and are now forced to switch to the technology that made them obsolete.
I guess that a hydrogen fueled vehicle would be allowed then, which is terrible since basically all hydrogen is made from methane currently. 🙈
Combustion engine tech has stagnated like the last 4 decades,
This isn’t true at all, combustion engines have improved by huge amounts in terms of efficiency and reliability in that time.
… funnily enough, the EU plans the latter, while some car makers act as if it meant the former.
I don’t see the issue burning climate hanging demon blood made of 666 particle in the periodic table that was sealed in the earth by the creator. In favor of what? The clean holy light of the sun? Pish
-CEOs
slam.
Blasted.
Slam badabam, damn weak journalism right here.
In any sane economy, this CEO would be terminated immediately for endangering the company.
Delaying he switch to full EV production is actively hurting the required transformation process they should have started 10 years ago. Further delays will just make the impact so much worse, but that’s of no concern to the current shareholders, apparently.
If you dont want to change then die slowly. Others will take your place
Reality check: You’re addicted to oil and it’s going to kill you. Give in to the cravings there is no escape. It’s not all bad, we’ll take care of you. You could have a shiny new S-Class that can go 300km/h. Who could blame you for wanting that? If we don’t keep manufacturing cars as quickly as possible the whole economy might collapse. Give us another twenty years to find the solution, it will be fine.
Also we said the same thing 15 years ago, but this time round it will be different, pinky promise.
I guess we’ll just buy chinese cars, then.
The “reality” is the problems with combustion engines and burning fossil fuels has been known, definitively, for 50 years or so, and these people, instead of planning for the future, ensured its destruction instead.
The European car market won’t collapse, people will just switch to Chinese EVs who are cheaper to buy and run and have better options. I think this CEO just overestimates the value and brand appeal of his company. Especially young people associate Mercedes with an old people car.
I think most people associate Mercedes with “expensive” and their electric offerings are even more so. And they’re not particularly good EVs either cited for problems with reliability. I think that’s the real issue for the brand. The value proposition isn’t there, not even for people looking for a luxury car.
chinese evs run and have better options
Suuureeee. One look at chinese social media shows the opposite. Them suddenly bursting into flames, uncontrolled self driving, you being able to be locked inside them and, like Huawei, it survaling you 24/7. Yeaaah no i’ll gladly pass
Especially young people associate Mercedes with an old people car.
As a young person, first time i heared this.
US people have a completely different exposure to European brands.
Because only old people have the money to buy them… german car’s are WAY too expensive.
I buy an asian car with all extras for the price of a german base model, with nothing extra.
No, Europe’s car market won’t “collapse”. The companies which have spent the last 10-15 years planning & investing, and the next 10 years building & rolling out will make the transition and those that haven’t will go to the wall.
In fairness to Mercedes they are making some effort. They do offer electric versions for most of their range but they also suck compared to the competition by price & performance. Probably because they’re compromised by sharing a platform with ICE vehicles. This isn’t the fault of the technology, it’s the fault of Mercedes.
It is also Mercedes fault that they’re not knuckling down and solving this issue. Mercedes had better pull its finger out. Or it could whine, spread FUD, or waste money on tangents like “synthetic” fuels. If it chooses the latter, it WILL go bust and have to be bailed out by a competitor.
As silly as horse cars demanding a reality check when confronted with the rise of electric streetcars
We should really start emphasising that there is no blanket ban on combustion engines planned but an emissions ban. If the car manufacturers wanted to and found it feasible, they’re free to build emission free combustion engines. Every time they call it a combustion engine ban is an admission that they can’t or at least won’t build better engines.
I mean, is there any way to make emissions free ice? Fuel has to go in so it has to come out. I don’t think it’s disingenuous to call it a combustion ban.
That and it’s not like because the fuel you get to charge your EV is necessarily emissions free either.
Mercedes CEO shouting from the ivory tower. They’re cooked.
