[rob74]

Not sure about the rest, but I can definitely explain why Germany has (had) nuclear power plants and Austria doesn't: lobbying! Siemens wanted an opportunity to show off its technology, so all NPPs in West Germany were built by them. Austria didn't have such implications, so no nuclear power. Lobbying (by the strong automobile industry) is also the reason why the German autobahns still have no general speed limit and are still free to use for cars (paid by taxes of course). Austria BTW has both a speed limit and a toll for its freeways (and no domestic car manufacturers).

[externedguy]

History has shown that German automotive industry has huge power, so things like nuclear ban, shady emission restrictions, etc. seem like just the tip of the iceberg.

[cinntaile]

Are you really insinuating that the German automotive industry is behind the nuclear ban? Why would they do that?

[Moldoteck]

german auto companies aren't that competitive in ev field and i'm not sure they want to. Thousands of ppl are working at those and that work is related to combustion engine design, switching to ev might mean a huge blow for them. Nuclear, if done like in france/japan/korea, means cheap(er) reliable electric energy which would motivate more ppl to switch to ev's and since there are other players like tesla (more popular) or something from byd (cheaper) german auto industry can be in a tough position.

[cinntaile]

France, Japan and Korea are all countries with a big vested interest in ICE vehicles so why doesn't your reasoning apply to them?

[Moldoteck]

the interest in ice vehicles is either smaller and smaller lobby from them or the countries had little natural resources and national interest was put first, but who knows

[externedguy]

Keep in mind that I'm stupid in politics and economy and I did not invest meaningful time into studying them, but:

I think generally accepted nuclear power is a literal threat to the German automotive industry. MB, VW Group, BMW, and others are not ages ahead of Chinese manufacturers in EV sector like they are in case with ICE cars.