Former Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess questioned the feasibility of e-fuels and hydrogen as a solution to the climate issue in an interview with Markus Lanz.
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| Former Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess (Copyright included) |
"E-fuels and hydrogen are not a solution for the climate," Diess stated. "They are far too expensive and inefficient."
Diess pointed out that e-fuels are generated from fossil fuels, and the manufacturing process emits greenhouse gases. He also stated that hydrogen vehicles are less efficient than electric vehicles.
"The only way to solve the climate crisis is to switch to electric cars," stated Diess. "Electric cars are the only technology that is both affordable and efficient."
Diess' views come as the German government considers investing billions of dollars on e-fuels and hydrogen. Environmental organizations have criticized the initiative, claiming that it is a waste of money.
"The government should focus on investing in electric cars," said Karsten Weyer, climate policy director at Greenpeace Germany. "E-fuels and hydrogen are not a sustainable solution to the climate crisis."
Diess' statements are expected to bolster those who oppose the government's plan to invest in e-fuels and hydrogen. It remains to be seen if the government's intentions will be altered in light of Diess' statements.
In addition to environmental considerations, e-fuels and hydrogen raise economic difficulties. The manufacture of e-fuels requires a lot of energy, and hydrogen is still expensive. This makes e-fuels and hydrogen less appealing than electric vehicles, which are becoming more inexpensive.
The future of hydrogen and e-fuels is uncertain. Diess' words, however, imply that they are not a feasible answer to the climate catastrophe. The only way to address the climate catastrophe is to transition to electric vehicles.