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 due to a possible power outage or civil defense scenario in Germany, public charging stations are not supplied with emergency power during a blackout, 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 „worst-case scenario“ - an approach that has met with incomprehension from political opponents and environmental associations.
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