Overview
- Stefan Sternberg (SPD), the district administrator of Ludwigslust-Parchim, continues to use a BMW 750 hybrid as his official vehicle.
- In a three-page explanation published this week, he argues an electric car would be unfit in a defense or tension scenario with prolonged outages, noting charging could require diesel generators.
- Deutsche Umwelthilfe chief Jürgen Resch condemns the rationale as the most absurd yet for keeping a combustion-based service car and says EVs can power essential equipment during outages.
- Other district leaders offer contrasting approaches: Tino Schomann would rely on a dedicated emergency command vehicle, while Timo Gaarz uses a fully electric service car guided by his council’s climate plan.
- Additional pushback comes from Green lawmakers and the AfD, and DUH reports 57% of federal and state service cars are already fully electric, with no change announced to Sternberg’s vehicle choice.