COUNTRY FOCUS : GERMANY
The European Commission has recognised the importance of investing in the future of electric vehicles as it approves a € 1.8 billion German scheme to rollout-high power charging infrastructure for electric vehicles . Volkswagen Group has already set up more than 15,000 HPC points around the world in its mission to be on-board with the move – something it considers to be a high-potential strategic business area of the future .
Germany paves the way in el
Panorama of Berlin ’ s skyline featuring Spree river at sunset
The European Commission has approved , under EU State aid rules , a € 1.8 billion German scheme to support the rollout of high-power charging (‘ HPC ’) infrastructure for electric vehicles . The measure contributes to the achievement of the objectives of the Commission ’ s European Green Deal and ‘ Fit for 55 ’ package .
The German scheme
The scheme , notified by the German authorities , aims at establishing a network of HPC infrastructure for electric vehicles in urban , suburban and rural areas in Germany , the so-called ‘ Deutschlandnetz ’. The scheme will create a backbone of essential HPC infrastructure in order to encourage the shift to electric mobility .
The measure envisages the deployment of 8,500 HPC points , which will allow recharging electric vehicles within 15 – 30 minutes , in approximately 900 locations in Germany where there are no HPC points or where the existing points are insufficient to address anticipated demand . Under the scheme , the aid will take the form of direct grants and recurring payments covering part of the operating costs . The beneficiaries will be companies with experience in the construction and operation of recharging infrastructure , which will be selected following a competitive bidding process .
The Commission ’ s assessment
The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules , in particular Article 107 ( 3 )( c ) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
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