Speed limit of 130: The minister rejects and hedges

After the new Federal Minister of Transport, Volker Wissing, wants to create more leeway for municipalities in terms of speed limit 30, he reiterated his fundamentally negative stance on the topic of speed limit 130 on highways. He understood that this concerned people.

"But it is an issue that does not solve the problems in the mobility sector, especially in the car sector, at all. It is a very small issue, even if it is a very emotional issue," explained the FDP politician at the Handelsblatt Energy Summit.

In the coalition agreement, the traffic light parties opposed a speed limit of 130 on highways at the urging of the FDP, although this had previously been supported by the Greens and parts of the SPD. Wissing repeated the liberal party's dogma that more emphasis should be placed on the use of digital tools for traffic management than on a rigid limit. CO2 savings could be better achieved this way than through an instrument from the "analog world" like a blanket limit, the Minister believes.

Waiting is not an option: Wissing sees urgent need for action

In principle, however, Wissing sees a need for action in all areas. Waiting is not an option. The transport sector must make a significant contribution to achieving climate targets. In Wissing's view, this requires an attractive public transport system and a strong rail network, as well as emission-free trucks, safe and attractive bike and pedestrian paths, and a switch to "climate-neutral mobility" in cars. Although he still formally sees this as "technology-neutral," he primarily considers it to be battery-electric driven. The priority is the expansion of the fast-charging infrastructure. Wissing did not want to commit to a rigid number of 15 million e-cars by 2030 and has recently included plug-in hybrid vehicles in this number. The coalition agreement actually allows no leeway here and speaks of "electric cars" as well as, in a clarification, of "fully electric cars".

He renewed his new skepticism regarding the possible role of e-fuels in cars, which "could of course also be an important contribution" but "would initially not be available in sufficient quantities" and should therefore be prioritized for heavy-duty and air transport. He again advised car buyers to look for options now to drive CO2-free immediately.