Since October 2017, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has been promoting the expansion of non-publicly accessible charging infrastructure with the “Low-Emission Mobility” funding guideline.
In 2020, the Arnsberg district government received around 36,000 funding applications. This included applications from private applicants, tenants and landlords who are currently no longer submitting applications but can receive funding from KfW’s 440 program. Currently, only legal entities and municipalities benefit from the “Low-Emission Mobility” funding.

Company: What is funded?

The creation of non-publicly accessible charging infrastructure by legal entities and partnerships is generally accompanied by the state government with a 50 percent funding rate. Non-mobile wall boxes and charging stations are funded regardless of model and manufacturer. The subsidy applies to each newly created charging point. A charging column with two charging points can therefore be funded twice. An additional bonus of 500 euros is granted when a new renewable energy system is built. If a battery storage system is added, this can be subsidized with 200 euros per kilowatt hour up to a maximum of 30 kWh storage capacity.

“Low-emission mobility”: funding examples

A wallbox is funded with a donation of 1,000 euros. If this wallbox is controllable, up to 2,500 euros are possible. Controllable means that the charger must have a bidirectional data transmission interface and a communication protocol required for control. If a company wants to install a charging station, it can apply for up to 3,000 euros for a non-taxable and up to 4,500 euros for a taxable one. If the charging station has two charging points, such as the mv AC 500, funding of up to € 9,000 can be applied for.

Promotion of municipal charging infrastructure up to 80%

While companies are granted a funding rate of up to 50 percent, municipalities and municipal companies are supported with a rate of up to 80 percent. For the installation of a controllable charging station with two charging points, for example, municipalities can receive up to 6,300 euros. The bonuses granted for the construction of a renewable energy system and / or the installation of a battery storage system remain the same.

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As early as mid-September, the Bundestag passed a draft law that gives apartment owners and tenants a fundamental legal right to a private charging point for charging an electric car. On October 9th, the Federal Council approved this draft.

The “Apartment Modernization Act”

The law that has now been passed is fully called “Draft of a law to promote electromobility and modernize the law on condominium ownership and to amend cost and land register regulations”. Abbreviated: “Apartment Modernization Act”. In addition to a right to a fiber optic connection, a barrier-free one Expansion and renovation or burglary protection measures, apartment owners and tenants are given the right to install a charging station.

What is changing?

With the “Apartment Modernization Act”, apartment owners can enforce the named structural measures even without the consent of all apartment owners of jointly used property. The owners’ meeting may no longer refuse the measures, but retains a say in how they are carried out. The “Apartment Modernization Act” also benefits tenants. They can now claim the above-mentioned modernizations from their landlords.

Who bears the costs?

The costs for the modernization measures are generally borne by individual apartment owners or tenants. If several apartment owners decide to modernize, this changes: If more than 50% of the owners agree to the measures in an owners’ meeting, the community of owners must bear the costs. However, there are opportunities for individual funding by the federal government with the Kfw-Programm 440 or through the Countries . The “Apartment Modernization Act” is due to come into force on December 1, 2020.

E-mobility consistently strengthened

With the “Apartment Modernization Act”, the federal government is further strengthening electromobility. Because already in June of this year the federal government had 2.5 billion euros from the “future package ” for the Funding and research in the field of electromobility and battery cell production guaranteed. The increase in the environmental bonus followed in July. In the spring, Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) had the “draft of the law to set up a building-integrated charging and line infrastructure for electromobility (Building Electromobility Infrastructure Act – GEIG) ” submitted.

Image source: Orths Medien

At the beginning of July 2020, the federal government decided on an unprecedented economic stimulus package in response to the economic effects of the corona pandemic. Among other things, the catalog includes funding for the expansion of the private charging station infrastructure and a significant increase in the purchase premium for electric cars and plug-in hybrids in the form of an innovation premium. But who actually benefits from the funding, what is the maximum amount and what should be taken into account?

What is the maximum environmental bonus for 2020?

Since July of this year, pure electric cars will be subsidized with up to € 9,000 until the end of 2021. There is a maximum of € 6,750 for plug-in hybrids. This is made possible by the innovation bonus issued as part of the economic stimulus package. In addition to the environmental bonus of a maximum of € 6,000, which is shared equally by car manufacturers and the federal government, the purchase of an electric car will be subsidized with a further € 3,000 innovation bonus until the end of 2021. The maximum purchase premium is only granted when purchasing a purely electric car with a list price of up to a maximum of € 40,000 net.

Drive	List price net	Environmental bonus until 12/2021	Environmental bonus from 01/2022
Battery / fuel cell	up to € 40,000	9,000 €	6,000 €
Battery / fuel cell	40 – 65,000 €	€ 7,500	€ 5,000
Plug-in hybrid	up to € 40,000	€ 6,750	4,500 €
Plug-in hybrid	40 – 65,000 €	€ 5,625	3.750 €

Who gets the environmental bonus?

Individuals, companies, companies with municipal participation, foundations, corporations and associations are eligible to apply for the environmental bonus and the new innovation bonus. The federal government itself, the federal states as well as their institutions and municipalities, all public institutions of the state, automobile manufacturers who participate in the financing of the environmental bonus and applicants whose assets have been filed for or opened for insolvency proceedings are left with nothing. The new bonus is only partially received automatically.

How do you get the environmental bonus?

When purchasing an electric car or a plug-in hybrid, buyers usually automatically receive the automobile manufacturer’s share of the subsidy of € 3,000. The other maximum possible € 6,000 from the state, however, is only available on request. The Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) is responsible for processing the application. The application is made online using a form, which can be found here. The increased funding can be applied retrospectively to everyone from June 4, 2020 registered e-vehicles can be applied for. The federal government is making their acquisition and use more attractive now and in the long term.

VAT reduction, charging point promotion and elimination of vehicle tax

While all individuals and companies benefit equally from the VAT rate of 16%, which will be reduced by the end of 2020, the federal government made a further commitment to climate-friendly and affordable mobility in mid-June. With the new regulation of the vehicle tax, all-electric cars are now tax-exempt until 2030. Before the decision, the exemption was valid until 2025. In addition, around 500 million euros from the future package will be used to expand the private charging station infrastructure. In order to give more people access to electric mobility solutions, in future tenants will have easier access to e-mobility and a legal right to a charging point should be created. The initiative is funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMVI), among others.

Image source: Orths Medien

On June 29th, the bodies decided on the second supplementary budget. The trend towards further promotion of electromobility in Germany is also clearly evident in this. Because the electric car purchase premium for e-cars and plug-in hybrids rises to 9,000 euros. But the expansion of the charging infrastructure will also continue to be boosted. To the delight of private individuals.

Funds from the “future package”

At the beginning of June, the federal government decided to invest an additional 2.5 billion euros in the expansion of modern and safe charging station infrastructure, the promotion of research and development in the field of electromobility and battery cell production, including in other possible locations. From this funding item in the “Future Package”, 500 million euros are earmarked for the expansion of the private charging infrastructure. The increased subsidy for charging points follows a draft law that was passed in the spring.

“GEIG” already decided in March

Because the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) took the first step in March and put the Bill of the Building Electromobility Infrastructure Act (GEIG) . Accordingly, when new construction or major renovations of residential and non-residential buildings are being built, parking spaces and parking spaces should be equipped with protective tubes for electrical and data lines. Soon tenants will have a legal right to a charging point. The Federal Ministry of Transport (BMVI) announced in mid-June 2020 that it would be promoting exactly this.

Expansion so far slower than planned

“The Ministry of Transport wants to support the private charging stations with half a billion euros”, confirmed a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Transport for the Reuters news agency . The 500 million can be the right signal for this. Because Germany sometimes lags behind its goals. Only 25,000 of the charging points, which should be one million by 2030, have so far been implemented. So far, 50 million euros have been earmarked for the expansion of the private charging station infrastructure. The expansion of the public charging infrastructure is also considered in the economic stimulus package: A supply requirement is to regulate that charging points are also offered at all petrol stations in Germany in the future.

Image source: Orths Medien

At the beginning of March 2020, the federal government passed the draft law of the Building Electromobility Infrastructure Act. If the initiators of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) have their way, motorists should have theirs Electric vehicles will soon be able to charge better at home and at work.

Requirements for builders and owners

The bill stipulates that in the case of a new construction or a major renovation of buildings with more than ten parking spaces, each parking space will be equipped with protective tubes for electrical and data lines. In non-residential buildings, every fifth parking space should be prepared for charging the recently booming electric vehicles in Germany . From 2025, every building not used for residential purposes with more than twenty parking spaces must be equipped with at least one charging point. More charging points are needed to promote e-mobility in Germany and establish it as an attractive alternative, said Minister of Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier (CDU).

“GEIG” is supposed to advance electromobility

“The law is thus another important step to advance the ramp-up of electromobility,” said Altmaier with regard to the advance, which in the full name “Draft of the law to build a building-integrated charging and line infrastructure for electromobility (Building Electromobility Infrastructure Act – GEIG) “ means. In February of this year, the federal government gave consumers a new buying incentive with an topped up electric vehicle purchase bonus , which the current subsidy programs provide and guidelines.

Federal government reacts to EU building directive 2018/844

With the “GEIG” draft, the federal government is setting the EU building Directive 2018/844 from 2018 1: 1 um. Violations of the law should be fined. The Building Electromobility Infrastructure Act also leaves room for maneuver: Buildings that belong to small and medium-sized companies and are mainly used by them themselves are excluded from the proposal.

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Funding for the purchase of an electric car or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will amount to up to 6,000 euros in the future. On February 11, the European Commission approved Berlin’s plan to not only extend the environmental bonus until 2025, but also to increase it. The federal government’s plan was drawn up at the end of 2019, but the EU’s confirmation has only now reached the capital. Review: After the funding expired for a short time, sales of electric vehicles collapsed. Car manufacturers such as Nissan, Renault, Hyundai and Kia responded and increased the purchase premium with their own funds. This will no longer be necessary.

New premium retrospectively until November 4, 2019

The increased environmental bonus is applicable to all electric vehicles registered after November 4, 2019. The new subsidy for electric cars provides for a bonus of 6,000 euros for vehicles with a net list price of up to 40,000 euros. It has thus been increased by 50 percent. For vehicles with a net list price of over 40,000 euros, the allowance rose by 25 percent to 5,000 euros. The funding also applies to plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) up to a net list price of 40,000 euros, which now enjoy a grant of 4,500 euros. Above the 40,000 euro limit, the subsidy for the hybrid can be up to 3,750 euros.

Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier was satisfied with the commitment from Brussels on February 11th: “I am delighted that the European Commission has given the green light today for the adjustment of the environmental bonus for electric vehicles.” In a press release he promised that the new funding guidelines would soon come into force The Christian Democrat emphasized that industry would continue to share half of the environmental bonus, and the other half would be borne by the taxpayer.

Update / addendum to this post on February 19, 2020: On February 18, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) published the announcement of the guideline for the promotion of the sale of electrically powered vehicles (environmental bonus). The new environmental bonus has thus come into force.

You can find a list of all eligible electric vehicles here.

Image source: Orths Medien GmbH

Anyone who buys or leases an e-car in Germany can count on a tax-free subsidy of 4,000 euros for purely electric or fuel cell powered vehicles until the end of June 2019. An extension of the program is currently being examined. Plug-in hybrids are subsidized with 3,000 euros. The federal government and automobile manufacturers each share the grants. The application for a grant can be submitted online to the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control ( www.bafa.de ). Private individuals, companies, foundations and associations are funded. The prerequisite for funding is that the vehicles purchased are on the Bafa list of eligible vehicles and the net list price is less than 60,000 euros. There are also possible discounts from the automobile manufacturers. You should speak to your vehicle dealer here.

Cities and energy suppliers are holding out the prospect of further funding. Both the purchase of vehicles and the installation of charging stations are subsidized by means of bonuses or electricity credits. For example, the Stadtwerke Aachen ( www.stawag.de ) subsidize the purchase of an electric car with 500 euros.

There are also funding opportunities from the federal states. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, private charging stations with up to 1,000 euros and companies that set up public charging points are subsidized with up to 5,000 euros in the “immediate electromobility program”. The prerequisite is a green electricity contract and installation by a specialist company. The costs will be reimbursed with a maximum of 50%.

In addition, the private installation costs for a charging station in the amount of 20% of the labor costs (maximum 6,000 euros) of the installation company can be deducted from taxes.

Furthermore, no vehicle tax is due for ten years for vehicles that are registered for the first time by December 31, 2020.

Company cars that are powered by an electric motor have only been taxed at 0.5% of the gross list price since the beginning of the year.

Source: Die Welt, April 15, 2019