EU approves German plan for 952 motorway charging points

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【Summary】The EU has approved a €350 million German scheme to install 952 high-power charging points for electric vehicles along the country's motorway network. This is part of the EU's mandate to have charging infrastructure every 60km along the trans-European transport network. The aid will be in the form of direct grants for installation and operation, open to all companies in the sector. The Commission found the scheme necessary and in line with the EU's green objectives.

FutureCar Staff Aug 13, 2023 11:39 PM PT

EU approves German plan for 952 motorway charging points

The European Commission has given its approval to a German scheme aimed at expanding the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) along the country's motorways. The scheme, which will receive €350 million in funding, will see the installation of 952 high-power charging (HPC) points at approximately 200 locations.

Last year, the EU approved a separate German scheme worth €1.8 billion, which aimed to deploy 8,500 HPC points across various urban, suburban, and rural areas.

These approvals are necessary because EU regulations generally prohibit state aid unless it can be justified by reasons of general economic development.

Under the approved German scheme, aid will be provided in the form of direct grants for both the installation and operation of each HPC point. The scheme will be open to all companies involved in the construction and operation of recharging infrastructure, and the selection of projects will be done through an open and competitive bidding process.

The EU has mandated the rollout of charging infrastructure along the trans-European transport (TEN-T) network, requiring the installation of recharging stations with a minimum power capacity of 150 kW every 60 kilometers.

The Commission concluded that the German scheme is necessary to facilitate the widespread deployment of HPC infrastructure, aligning with the EU's strategic goals regarding the green transition and the European Green Deal. Additionally, the Commission determined that the aid would have an incentive effect, as the beneficiaries would not make the necessary investments without public support.

In assessing the scheme's proportionality, the Commission ensured that the aid would be limited to the minimum necessary and would not unduly impact competition and trade within the EU. The German authorities have committed to ensuring that the prices for recharging EVs at the newly deployed HPC points are comparable to existing infrastructure. Based on these considerations, the German scheme has been approved under EU State aid rules.

Photo by Caleb George