The district administrator of the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, Stefan Sternberg (SPD), is currently causing a political debate because he has decided against an electric company car and instead opted for a hybrid combustion engine (BMW 750) - with an unusual justification.
Justification: Possible power cuts in the event of war
Sternberg argues that a purely electric vehicle would not be operational in the event of a crisis, such as a prolonged power outage as a result of a possible voltage or defense case in Germany. Public charging points are not supplied with emergency power in an emergency, and long charging times would jeopardize the mobility of the district administrator - as the highest operational leader in the district. He is therefore sticking with a heavier hybrid company car.
Criticism
Criticism of this argument comes from a wide range of political circles:
The Greens in the state parliament and local district council factions see the reasoning as an insufficient and unrealistic justification for choosing a more climate-damaging company car.
Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) sharply criticizes Sternberg's stance and describes his reasoning as the „most absurd justification“ for a combustion engine company car. DUH Federal Managing Director Jürgen Resch points out that modern electric cars could offer advantages, especially during power cuts, because they can serve as a mobile energy source for devices.
Other district councils are also irritated: While some rely on special command vehicles with blue lights, others already use purely electric vehicles as company cars - and justify this with climate protection concepts and practical suitability for everyday use.
Sternberg himself emphasizes that mobility must be guaranteed in the event of a disaster and that his decision was therefore made from the perspective of the „greatest disaster to be assumed“ - an approach that has met with incomprehension from political opponents and environmental associations.
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