Dear Reader,

The EU's decision to allow only climate- neutral vehicles to be registered from 2035 onward is in principle correct, provided that a systemic evaluation is carried out of all the emissions produced during the manufacturing, operation and recycling of the vehicle, regardless of the type of powertrain. However, this requires sector coupling to be introduced and, as things currently stand, there are serious doubts about the ability of those responsible to look far into the future. All over Europe, the media and politicians are proclaiming the end of the combustion engine, despite the fact that e-fuels are still undergoing testing and would be certain to be given the green light on the basis of a systemic, sector- coupled assessment.

Experts in the field have long understood that the climate impact of the transport sector can only be reduced if all types of powertrain are taken into consideration. But what about the politicians? Recently a scientist who is a friend of mine told me about taking part in a panel discussion where he once again had to explain the laws of physics to a committed environmental politician who responded triumphantly "Politics beats physics!"

I would like to see these politicians and everyone who shares their views start practicing levitation or bending beams of light. As they are highly unlikely to succeed, it is worth saying here that the success of politicians is measured according to the practical solutions they introduce to bring about the longer-term success of society as a whole. Politics of exercising power under the premise of winning at any price, however, is is certain to fail. It may satisfy party ideologists and those with particularistic interests, but in concrete terms, when a global climate policy is needed, it ultimately results in the destruction of prosperous national economies and of open, free, successful, technology- neutral societies based on the principle of consensus, just like our own democratic society. However, the exercise of power as an end in itself will never be able to prevent climate change in the long term.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of ATZ.

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Dr. Alexander Heintzel

Editor in Chief