Oliver Krischer, deputy chairman of the Greens parliamentary group in the Bundestag, has written a letter to Tesla boss Elon Musk. Under his official letterhead he writes: “I would be delighted if you looked into taking over the Streetscooter company and thus also innovative electric transporters.” The Deutsche Post wants to stop the production of the electric van for reasons that are not inventive for Krischer and is currently looking for a buyer in a second attempt.

There is a “strong optimism” for electric cars in Germany, but for vans and delivery vehicles it has collapsed, writes Krischer in his letter. In this segment, however, there are good growth prospects and little competition. “The Streetscooter company is a pearl in the field of electric vans and would make a sensible addition to Tesla’s range of models,” the letter said. And since Deutsche Post DHL is still 17 percent state-owned, politicians also influence that sales talks are conducted with the necessary seriousness; after all, it is about more than 80 jobs only in the final assembly of the street scooter.

Musk creates awareness Musk has greatly stimulated the debate about electric cars in Germany with his decision to set up a Tesla production facility in Grünheide. Many people are only now becoming aware of the opportunities that electric mobility offers and how many new jobs can be created. The street scooter is popular with customers and the order books are not empty. For the Post it was possible that not only factual arguments played a role in giving up the Streetscooter company.

In February, the Post announced that the Streetscooter would only be available until the end of 2020 should be built. Before that, the company had spent months trying to find potential buyers; it had emphasized that it did not want to become an automaker itself. The group subsidiary is to become a pure operator of the existing fleet. Swiss Post recently decided to extend production until next year. A few thousand more electric transporters are to be built for the Post’s own use, they said. Photos) The Streetscooter Work has a peak performance of 48 kW and a continuous output of 38 kW. The range is 80 km.

(Image: Deutsche Post DHL) Among other things, Krischer is the political coordinator of the Environment & Energy and Transport & Building working group for the Bundestag Greens. For the upcoming federal election 2021 he has decided to win a direct mandate for the Greens in the constituency of Aachen I. The street scooter final assembly is located in the region there.

(anw)