As Germany’s Federal Minister for Economics and Technology, Philipp Rösler is the man in charge when it comes to decide if there should financial incentives for buying an electric car. In an interview to Auto Motor und Sport (in German), Rösler gave very different ideas from its European counterparts. His main idea is that because of their limited range, EVs just can’t compete with gas or diesel cars. Incentives won’t make them anymore competitive, so his ministry chose to finance R&D to make EVs better, by improving their range or performance.

Mr. Rösler had first introduced himself as an advocate of individual mobility, and he expressed its unequivocal support for free highways (most European countries charge a toll to use their highways), with unrestricted speed on the name of freedom. No doubt many drivers would wish a man like him to be in charge in their country…