Germany, currently the biggest electric car market in Europe, is going to significantly increase its support for electrification after the coronavirus economy slowdown through various measures counted in billions of euros (up to €130 billion/$146 billion total for the entire economy).
Let’s take a look at the proposed ideas, which probably will be implemented soon.
One of the first elements is higher subsidies for plug-in car purchases (doubled the amount from the government), which makes the new EVs really affordable:
BEVs and FCVs:
- Cars with net list price of under €40,000 ($45,200)
Total incentive of up to €9,000: €6,000 from the government (it was €3,000) and €3,000 from the manufacturers - Cars with net list price of €40,000-€65,000 ($45,200-$73,400)
Total incentive of up to €7,500: €5,000 from the government (it was €2,500) and €2,500 from the manufacturers
PHEVs:
- Cars with net list price of under €40,000 ($45,200)
Total incentive of up to €6,750: €4,500 from the government (it was €2,250) and €2,250 from the manufacturers - Cars with net list price of €40,000-€65,000 ($45,200-$73,400)
Total incentive of up to €5,625: €3,750 from the government (it was €1,875) and €1,875 from the manufacturers
It’s expected that the government will spend some €2.2 billion on those subsidies by the end of 2021.
Another important measure is the value-added tax (VAT) in Germany, which will be lowered from 19% to 16% to boost consumption (from July 1 to December 31, 2020).
In the case of EVs, a single percent from an example EV car price of €30,000 is €300, so it makes the new plug-in car purchase cheaper by about €1,000 alone. Maybe more at higher prices.
Company car taxation to be 0.25% for all-electric cars under €60,000 (previously under €40,000).
All the fuel stations in Germany will be required by law to have an EV charging infrastructure.
About €2.5 billion will be available for expansion of charging infrastructure and some other purposes like battery R&D. The long-term goal is to have 1 million public charging points by 2030 (from about 28,000 in mid-2020).
Some €1.2 billion to be available for private and municipal operators to switch to alternative drive systems (including electric buses and trucks).
The government rejected the idea to incentivize internal combustion engine purchases, while all-electric cars will be exempt from vehicle tax by 2030.
Moreover, models with CO2 emission above the 95 g/km will face increased levies.