Politicians increasingly opt for eco-friendly automobiles for their transportation needs.

The German Environmental Aid (DUH) has raised concerns over the lack of transition to fuel-efficient official vehicles within the federal government, despite the advancing climate crisis and a change in government.

In an analysis of the official vehicles of Germany's top politicians, the DUH found that many emit a considerable amount of CO2. Surprisingly, there is no significant improvement in the use of fuel-efficient official vehicles by the federal government, according to the DUH.

At the federal level, including state secretaries, the share of purely battery-electric official vehicles has increased slightly from 50 to 57 percent compared to the previous year. However, this progress is not consistent, with only four out of 11 federal ministers using purely electric cars. Seven out of 11 federal ministers use plug-in hybrids, including Katherina Reiche, Alois Rainer, Verena Hubertz, Patrick Schnieder, Stefanie Hubig, Dorothee Baer, and Baerbel Bas.

The DUH's evaluation does not include the vehicles of some federal ministers due to their heavy armor. One Minister-President, Winfried Kretschmann of Baden-Württemberg, drives an electric car, making him the only German Minister-President who does so. Other Minister-Presidents, including Markus Söder from Bavaria, do not use purely electric vehicles.

Out of 16 state governors, only one (Winfried Kretschmann) drives an electric car, according to the DUH. Only 87 out of 238 top politicians drive purely electric cars, a low percentage considering the urgency of the climate crisis.

Hamburg's Mayor Peter Tschentscher was previously listed with an electric car but is now listed with a plug-in hybrid. The DUH's evaluation methodology assumes that plug-in hybrids are only used in combustion mode, but it is unclear if this is the case for top politicians and their fleet management.

The DUH has expressed its concern over this situation, stating that Germany's top politicians are still relying on too many climate-damaging official vehicles. The organisation calls for a more consistent switch to fuel-efficient official vehicles to help combat the climate crisis.