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.
The current Mercedes leadership is notoriously incompetent. They’d rather dig their own grave than get with the times. Funny that they are trying to cling to the combustion engine now right after they lost the Chinese EV market.
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 for drawing conclusions from their own bad decisions.
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.
We need a reality check
When you are used to define what ‘reality’ is… 😅
Regulatory capture ultimately leading to lack of innovation and failure…
Who could have predicted this?! Oh the scientists? The same type of people that talk about climate change all the time? Different type of Scientists? There is like more than one science? How should i have known?! i have an MBA!
As silly as horse cars demanding a reality check when confronted with the rise of electric streetcars
I think it’s not silly. It’s just the car manufacturers who need the reality check and not politics.
Mercedes CEO shouting from the ivory tower. They’re cooked.
What’s the matter, big boy, can’t compete in the free market? Is your job too hard? Do you need more subsidies? Yeah? Tariffs on Chinese cars? Shall the politicians come over and fuck your wife as well?
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.
E-fuels are specifically allowed by the EU law. This was added at the last second due to lobbying from Germany and the German car lobby. Another option would be hydrogen engines. So yes, it is absolutely possible to build and sell new ICE cars after 2035 but they’re unlikely to be successful because of the high expected fuel costs.
Right now, depending on where you live, a more or less significant part of the electricity you charge EVs with is not emission free, that’s true. But there are two major advantages: EVs work with emission free electricity just the same as with emissive electricity. So once more or eventually all of the electricity becomes emission free, which is actively being worked on, the car would automatically become emission free. And secondly, you can control where the emissions happen. Especially in cities carbon and nitrous emissions from ICE cars significantly affect the air quality. Even if the electricity for an EV was produced in the most polluting way possible, that pollution would be located at the power plant and could be controlled or mitigated there.
EVs are actually particularly attractive with a higher portion of renewables in the electricity mix. With renewables you can’t control when the peak power production happens. But if you have EVs and their battery capacity in the grid, you could use these peaks of power production to charge the EVs instead of letting it go to waste.
I guess we’ll just buy chinese cars, then.
slam.
Slam badabam, damn weak journalism right here.
Blasted.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
… funnily enough, the EU plans the latter, while some car makers act as if it meant the former.
IMO he should “get on a bike”. Literally. I keep walking…
It must be difficult for them to always hire a CEO with the name Mercedes.
I knew a girl named Mercedes.
They wanted to set her up for success early. Good parents.
Well that didn’t work, she danced to the static in the radio
Old technology gets only an upgrade. Should know that ev is a future upgrade. But he’s only CEO. So, don’t get caught up in the right wing people.