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Up to 10,200 euros in funding for private charging infrastructure: Drivers of electric cars will soon be able to access new funding from the state-owned KfW bank. There is criticism of the requirements for the program.
More and more people are driving electrically powered vehicles in Germany. In August, 20 percent of the newly registered motor vehicles were electric cars. Nevertheless, the e-car still has a difficult time with many Germans, the most popular vehicle remains the petrol engine. The reason for this, in addition to the higher prices, is also the concern of many drivers about the lack of charging options.
The ARD Capital Studio reported in June for the first time on the Ministry of Transport’s plans for a new support program. With a total volume of 500 million euros, three important parts of the charging infrastructure are being funded in private residential buildings: charging station, photovoltaic system and storage.
Funding of up to 10,200 euros
Well lie to that ARD Capital Studio exclusively the details about the individual subsidy amount and the start date. Anyone who uses their e-car in addition to so-called bidirectional charging, i.e. uses the vehicle’s battery to store electricity and either feeds surpluses back into the grid or uses them for their own home, can count on a maximum subsidy of 10,200 euros. Otherwise, the maximum funding amount is 9,600 euros.
The prerequisite is that all three technologies are purchased together and new. Individual areas cannot be funded. In addition, interested parties must own an electric car or wait for delivery. The electricity from the photovoltaic system should also be used primarily to charge the vehicle.
Transport Minister Volker Wissing, who also wants to improve the poor climate balance of the transport sector with the new funding, said in the ARD-Interview: “The combined funding is new. It provides an incentive to use e-mobility and at the same time to participate in decentralized energy production.”
Experts estimate that the funding program could cover around a quarter of the total investment from funding.
Obstacles for funding program too high?
The Automobile Club of Germany (AvD) welcomes the funding of charging infrastructure in principle, but complains that the hurdles for the program are high and that it is therefore not available to everyone. “Only private individuals with appropriate properties and appropriate areas will be able to do that,” said AvD spokesman Herbert Engelmohr. “Ownership is already a prerequisite here in order to be able to take advantage of this funding.” Nevertheless, tenants of city apartments went away empty-handed.
The National Center for Charging Infrastructure estimates that around 60 to 85 percent of all charging processes take place at home or at work. The funding program of the Ministry of Transport should start there and thus make the use of e-cars in Germany more attractive as part of the existing “Master Plan Charging Infrastructure II”.
The Ministry of Transport expects a high five-digit number of applications from private households. The program is to be financed via the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF), a special fund of around 35 billion euros. As with previous programs, the applications are to be processed via the state development bank KfW. Applications can be submitted from September 26th.