MUNICH/BREMEN (dpa-AFX) - Germany's largest automobile club has continued to grow. As ADAC President Christian Reinicke said before the Annual General Meeting in Bremen on Saturday, the number of members rose by 380,000 last year to 21.8 million. "Most members are with us because of the breakdown service," said Reinicke. But three quarters of new members had taken out the more expensive premium membership with additional services.

The annual result is nevertheless "a good bit below the previous year because we had more breakdowns," said board member Oliver Weissenberger. Drivers are keeping their vehicles longer and the fleet is getting older. The number of road patrols rose from 3.4 million to over 3.5 million. The association intends to announce the financial figures at the Annual General Meeting.

This year's Annual General Meeting, which brings together around 230 delegates from the 18 regional clubs, will focus on the "opportunities and risks of electromobility". The association's management is expecting a lively debate, partly because "many members are skeptical about e-mobility", as Reinicke said.

The executive committee believes that "e-mobility is currently the only way to make cars climate-neutral and achieve climate targets" and is trying to set a positive tone. The ADAC is providing advice and has already tested over 150 e-models. The end of combustion engines in new car sales in the EU from 2035 is a given for the association. "But it must remain open to all technologies," said Reinicke. Hydrogen, fuel cells or e-fuels should not be ruled out. There is an existing fleet of over 40 million petrol and diesel cars in Germany.

At the ADAC breakdown service, "we won't be able to fleet any e-cars in the foreseeable future", said Weissenberger. With a payload of 600 kilograms of tools and equipment, the vehicles are too heavy for this, "the range would be too limited". In addition, the breakdown mechanics would also have to be able to tow another vehicle if necessary. In order to still be more climate-friendly on the road, the breakdown service vehicles will increasingly be refueled with HVO100 biodiesel.

The association has a new solution for its ADAC e-Charge charging service. Following the end of the cooperation with EnBW, Aral pulse is to become the new partner from August 1. The main features of the cooperation have been agreed, Reinicke announced on Saturday. Details are to follow in good time before the launch./rol/DP/zb