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German Cities Can Ban Diesel Cars, Court Rules (cnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.

A German court has ruled that cities in Germany are allowed to enact bans on diesel vehicles, Reuters reports. It's unlikely that bans will magically appear across the country overnight, but not everyone in the country is happy about this decision. From a report: Environmentalists might be happy about the possibility of banning some of the road's dirtiest cars, but owners and right-leaning groups are not. Reuters reports that some politicians believe this decision could disenfranchise a large swath of car owners across the country, many of whom likely can't afford to immediately replace a vehicle.

6 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. Morons by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Building a new car is more polluting than the running an old car, and the economic activity required to afford that new car also burns more energy, with its pollution, than the car will save.

    Cars will move to electrics pretty soon now - as the old fleet ages out the electric replacements will be too cost-effective to not buy - only gearheads will still want liquid fuel vehicles.

    But in the meantime, some wealthy politicians and their wealthy friends can ban the cars that their staff people drive (because the wealthy people don't pay them enough) so that they don't have to breathe their "poor-people" pollution. The politicians will hide behind the fig leaf of environmentalism because just enough people aren't educated enough to call them on their ruling-class bullshit.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    1. Re:Morons by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Building a new car is more polluting than the running an old car

      Polluting where? Building a new car doesn't cause NOx and particulate matter to be spewed into the middle of a dense population centre. Oh and the construction and assembly of a car accounts for less than 15% of the emissions over a 5 year life. It gets paid back very quickly.

      No your black smoke belching beater is not doing yourself, the environment, or anyone around you any favours.

  2. Good ruling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Your right to pollute ends at the tip of my nose. If you want to drive a POS that generates choking, unhealthy pollution, move to a city or country that is willing to tolerate it. I'm not, and many like me are not.

  3. Re:How dare they by Use+Crisco+in+Sodomy · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Paging Alex Jones!

    Four months out of the year for snow plows. Six months out of the year for bicycles. Nothing that goes outside here in the North can be used all year. It is not some giant conspiracy by automakers and politically correct people. It is sensible legislation.

  4. Re:Forcing electric cars by jareth-0205 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The EU allows social engineering that would have made the Soviets blush? Color me surprised!

    I suppose you're all for burning coal to heat you house also? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
    I have to breathe the air that your car expels. Air quality in big cities is awful but of course we can't do anything about that BECAUSE FREEDOM

  5. Re:Forcing electric cars by sinij · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There's nothing stopping you from cycling in the snow. Get some decent tires a good jacket and go for it. According to you you'll have an entire lane to yourself.

    There are many things that stopping me: a. lack of a death wish, b. aversion to misery, c. gainful employment with standards on tardiness and appearance.