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Electric car insurance is often more expensive than for combustion engine vehicles – up to a 44 percent surcharge

Car insurance for electric vehicles is now often more expensive than for comparable gasoline or diesel cars. This is shown by a recent analysis from the comparison portal Verivox. According to the analysis, premiums for electric cars are “up to 44 percent higher under otherwise identical conditions” than those for the corresponding combustion engine model. […]

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Denmark is considering mini nuclear reactors – the 1985 ban on nuclear power is officially under threat for the first time

Denmark is officially including mini nuclear reactors in a state review process for the first time, thereby calling into question the nuclear power ban that has been in place since 1985. The government aims to make the long-term energy supply more stable with this change of course and is relying on a new assessment framework.

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Antibiotic shortage – special rules are intended to keep Germany’s supply stable

The supply of antibiotics is once again critical for certain medications because stocks of specific depot penicillins are expected to run out. The Federal Ministry of Health is reacting promptly to ensure that therapies are not interrupted. At the same time, the situation demonstrates how quickly a fragile supply chain can falter when only one

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New EU regulation from May 2026 – old energy performance certificates will become invalid

For many property owners, May 2026 will be a key date, as new EU regulations for energy performance certificates will then come into effect. Anyone wishing to sell or rent a property from this point onward will often need a newly issued energy performance certificate that meets the updated standard. Failure to provide a valid

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Arctic cold halts US gas production – natural gas prices in Germany poised to jump

The arctic cold is already noticeably impacting US gas production. The Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico is particularly affected, as temperatures there are dropping well below freezing. In the early morning hours, valves, measuring points, and manifolds are especially quickly pushed to their limits by the frost. (bloomberg: 24.01.26) Production freezes due to

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Following the Berlin blackout – Kemfert demands mandatory emergency power for new buildings

The Berlin power outage last winter affected around 45,000 households. Energy economist Claudia Kemfert, head of the Energy, Transport, and Environment department at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), draws a clear conclusion: emergency power should be mandatory in new buildings. In her view, the problem wasn’t so much the grid itself, but

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Wind power expansion interferes with Bundeswehr radar systems – government considers expansion important

The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) warn that wind turbines located near radar systems can interfere with military radar installations. They cite reflections, false echoes, and shadowing, as these can degrade the quality of the air situation picture. The Ministry of Defense therefore demanded strict building limits around air defense radars. However, this safety measure was

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EU plans to ban plastic flower pots – why the plan threatens to become more expensive than it benefits

Plastic flowerpots are not a luxury item, but a functional means of transport. They hold the soil together, protect the roots, and prevent moisture from ending up in the car or home. Nevertheless, the EU wants to ban these flowerpots as single-use packaging. The goal sounds good, but the path to achieving it could create

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Sweden reverses course in climate policy – from pioneer back to economics

Sweden is slowing down its climate protection efforts, even though the country was long considered a pioneer of the green transition. At times, the expansion of green energy and the pace of political action were significantly ahead of Germany and many other European countries. Now, however, economic thinking dominates, and the government is setting different

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Deceptive stability – electricity prices cannot be maintained in 2026 without billions in taxpayer money

Several reports on the Federal Network Agency’s forecast currently highlight a key point: electricity prices could remain stable or even fall in 2026 because the expansion of renewable energies will increase supply and therefore have a price-dampening effect (welt: 27.12.25). This portrayal shapes public perception, especially since it is presented as a sign of success

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After switching to heat pumps – Tübingen charges 3332 euros for disconnection from the gas network

In Tübingen, homeowners are reporting high additional costs after switching to a heat pump. Specifically, they are facing charges of €3,332 for the final disconnection from the gas network. At the same time, a look at other German states shows that there is no uniform standard. Depending on the network operator, the charges range from

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Slump in demand – ZF discontinues several electric car projects

ZF is prematurely ending several electric vehicle projects. The supplier is reacting to a slower market ramp-up. At the same time, the company wants to free up funds so that future programs can reliably generate returns. (ntv: 23.01.26) Why ZF terminates projects with customers early ZF describes the decision as the result of discussions with

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Insufficient demand – Honda halts fuel cell production with GM in the USA

Honda and General Motors are ending their joint production of fuel cell systems in the US. The FCSM joint venture in Michigan is being shut down because demand fell significantly short of expectations. Fuel cells played a central role in the original business model, but a lack of customers prevented the necessary ramp-up. Honda and

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