BERLIN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Only emission-free cars should be registered in Germany from 2030 onwards, according to a position paper presented by Green Party parliamentary faction leader Anton Hofreiter on Monday.
Hofreiter demanded that Germany regulate the phase-out of the internal combustion engine by law, setting a "clear roadmap" to provide planning security for the automobile industry and its employees.
To enable Germany to achieve its climate targets in transport, the government and automobile industry must "quickly set the course for clean engines" which would mean first and foremost advancing electric mobility, according to the Green politician.
The German government should develop an overarching plan for the switch to electric mobility that would ensure "good, sustainable jobs in the car industry and emission-free mobility on the roads," said Hofreiter. Electric vehicles needed to move out of their niche and into the broader market.
In response to the demand from the Greens, Ulrich Lange, deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group responsible for transport, said that Germany's transformation process towards the "zero-emission car of tomorrow" could not be achieved through bans.
Instead, the German ruling parties CDU/CSU would be "focusing on a mix of innovative research and support promising technologies for new drive types for cars and trucks" ranging from electric mobility to fuel cells and synthetic fuels.
It was important that Germany did "not put all our eggs in one basket today that is called electric mobility," concluded Lange.
Hofreiter's demand comes amidst an ongoing debate in Germany over climate protection in the transport sector.
