According to the will of the traffic light coalition, the truck toll is to almost double on December 1. By doubling the toll for internal combustion vehicles and exempting zero-emission trucks from the toll, the German government wants to steer the transport sector toward lower CO2 emissions. Companies are to convert their fleets to emission-free drive types such as electric or hydrogen trucks. Hilke Ehlers, managing director of the Stade-based Fruchthandelsverband Nord, believes the toll plans are a political mistake. "The only problem is that these vehicles are not yet sufficiently available - neither in terms of technical performance nor in sufficient numbers," she tells Stadener Wochenblatt.
With the new legislation, the transport companies and also the local fruit trading companies would be charged almost double the toll costs. That would result in an additional burden of an estimated 1.5 million euros, Ehlers said. Climate protection is important, "it's just that the climate won't be helped by double tolls if there are no alternatives," says the association's managing director. "Fruit wholesalers do want to make their contribution to climate protection and CO2 reduction. But to do so, they need vehicles that are actually available."
Further information:
Hilke Ehlers
Fruchthandelsverband Nord e.V.
Obstmarschenweg 350
21683 Stade
Tel.: 04146-908471
Fax: 04146-908472
E-Mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.fruchthandelsverbandnord.de
