Berlin, Germany - LANXESS: Mr. Minister, what was your
first car?
Dr. Peter Ramsauer: A used white VW Beetle 1202. As a
19-year-old I was really proud of it. 15-liter fuel
consumption was normal back then. You can hardly imagine
that now.
LANXESS: A few years have passed since then… and we are now
looking to the future. What role will electric cars
play?
The fact that the automobile and supplier industry is
already so successful in Germany is down to the fact that
the car has been continuously redeveloped with new
innovations and technologies. These steps forward involve
almost all vehicle components and naturally have an
influence on performance, driving comfort, the effect on
the environment and safety.
This process will continue, as we always have new questions
to ask of ourselves. Faced with climate change and the
finite supply of crude oil as a raw material, we must focus
on new drive technology in particular. Electric
mobility plays a central role in this respect. We in
Germany want to become the leading market and the leading
providers in the field of electric mobility and aim to have
at least one million electric cars on our roads by 2020.
This may be ambitious, but with the combined efforts from
the worlds of industry, research and politics, it is
feasible.
LANXESS: You yourself are extremely active: Last
winter the fitting of winter tires became mandatory in
Germany and in 2012 tire labeling will become mandatory
throughout the European Union. What do you hope to gain
from this?
Of course, my principal aim is increased safety. After all,
safety must be the top priority. In addition I expect
increased legal protection for the consumer. For this
reason we are currently preparing the next steps to
providing further clarification regarding the mandatory use
of winter tires, so that people are also well informed.
At the same time, the transport sector must make a
contribution to climate protection. Therefore I welcome all
measures taken in the further development of innovative
mobility that leads to a reduction in the carbon
footprint.
LANXESS: So I believe you will agree: we require
innovative solutions that enable the sustainable mobility
of tomorrow. What role will the chemicals industry in
particular play in this?
Transport policy always entails a policy of innovation in
the area of climate and environmental protection. The focus
of all considerations must therefore be placed on the
striving towards increased efficiency: We need to further
separate the growth of the transport sector from energy
consumption.
Innovative solutions and new materials, as are developed
within the chemicals industry, make an important
contribution in this regard to a sustainable and
future-oriented mobility. This involves, for example, the
use of lighter components in batteries.
When I consider innovative solutions, I think of more than
just the hope of successfully stemming climate change and
its consequences. As an industrial country and an exporting
country, I see great opportunities and potential in new,
environmentally friendly technologies to secure jobs,
growth and prosperity here in Germany.
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