German motorway network to receive 952 new charging points

Home > Industry Analysis > Content

【Summary】EU approves €350m German scheme to install 952 high-power charging points for electric vehicles on motorways. The aid will be in the form of grants for installation and operation, open to all companies. This is part of the EU's mandate to install charging infrastructure every 60km along the trans-European transport network, contributing to the European Green Deal objectives. The scheme was approved under EU State aid rules and deemed proportionate to not negatively impact competition and trade.

FutureCar Staff Aug 14, 2023 9:46 AM PT

German motorway network to receive 952 new charging points

The European Commission has given its approval to a €350 million German scheme that aims to install 952 high-power charging (HPC) points for electric vehicles along the country's motorways. This initiative is in line with the EU's strategic objectives for the green transition, including the European Green Deal and the 'Fit for 55' package.

In December of last year, the EU had already approved a similar German scheme worth €1.8 billion, which aimed to roll out 8,500 HPC points across various urban, suburban, and rural locations in the country.

These approvals are necessary due to the general prohibition of state aid under the EU's Treaty, unless it can be justified by reasons of general economic development.

Under the German scheme, direct grants will be provided for the installation and operation of each HPC point, and the opportunity to participate in the bidding process will be open to all companies involved in the construction and operation of recharging infrastructure.

As part of the EU's requirements, charging infrastructure must be installed along the trans-European transport (TEN-T) network, with recharging stations of at least 150 kW every 60 kilometers.

The Commission determined that the German scheme is necessary and appropriate for the large-scale deployment of HPC infrastructure, contributing to the EU's green objectives. It also found that the aid would have an incentive effect, as the beneficiaries would not make the investments without public support.

The Commission also confirmed that the aid provided under the scheme would be limited to the minimum necessary and would not have any negative impact on competition and trade within the EU. The German authorities will ensure that the prices for recharging electric vehicles at the newly deployed HPC points are comparable to existing infrastructure.

Based on these considerations, the European Commission has approved the German scheme under EU State aid rules.

Photo by Caleb George