5 Funding
We look at charging infrastructure as an overall system of public and private fast- and normal-charging options. We are improving this overall system in several fields in parallel: with a nationwide public fast-charging network for charging over long journeys and in densely populated areas, with funding for charging infrastructure privately at home and in the commercial area as well as in the public space for everyday use. Our next objective: the nearest fast-charging station should be reachable by electric car in 10 minutes, everywhere in Germany.

The Deutschlandnetz

To cover the demand for medium- and long-term journeys, the federal government is tendering for an extensive, demand-based and user-friendly fast-charging network with 1,000 locations nationwide – the Deutschlandnetz. The tender has started on 01 October 2021. Each of the charging points must provide at least 300 kW power. This will mean a fast-charging point can be reached within a few minutes from anywhere in Germany and can be rapidly recharged. An interactive map with the 900 search areas of the regional lots of the Deutschlandnetz and further key information on the tender can be found at www.deutschlandnetz.de
The construction and operation of the Deutschlandnetz will be awarded in two separate tenders:
• Regional lots
• Nationwide lots along motorways

A flexible price cap of 44 cent per kWh is envisaged in both tenders. By determining a price model for charging at the Deutschlandnetz locations it will be ensured that no harmful repercussions ensue for the market that is developing in parallel and that at the same time, users find fair prices. The level of the flexible price cap has been chosen taking into account both market economy and climate policy factors.

The step from funding to tender is a paradigm shift in the state’s support for charging infrastructure expansion in Germany. In addition to the funding programmes of the BMVI for public and non-public charging infrastructure, there is now an approach in which the construction and guarantee of the operation of the charging point are contractually obligatory for tender winners. The evaluation criteria comprise costs, concept and customer friendliness.

The 900 search areas of the regional lots are distributed across 23 regional lots in a total of 6 regions (North-West, North-East, Middle Germany, South-East, South-West and West). These search areas define a specific area, e.g. around a transport hub. There is to be a fast-charging location with at least four and up to 16 fast-charging points in each search area. The bidder must submit or find suitable locations within this search area. This tender procedure is directed at regionally active operators as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The nationwide motorways lots comprise approx. 200 locations on unserviced rest areas along the federal motorways. They are to create a seamless charging infrastructure along the motorways. Companies active across Germany and Europe are the particular focus of the tender for nationwide motorway lots, which will be issued by Autobahn GmbH in the autumn.

When determining the need for search areas and equipping them with charging points, the existing fast-charging infrastructure with more than 150 kW power was taken into account. Furthermore, the federal government sets minimum technical requirements and quality standards at the fast-charging network locations and ensures compliance with them.

Important documents, map and image material on the Deutschlandnetz can be found at https://nationale-leitstelle.de/downloads/

FAQs zum Deutschlandnetz

‘Charging infrastructure on site’ funding guideline

Under this funding programme, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), small municipal utilities and local authorities as well as companies in the retail and hotel and hospitality sectors can submit funding applications for the installation of charging infrastructure from 12 April to 31 December 2021. The goal is to accelerate the installation of charging stations at attractive everyday destinations. The funding volume is 300 million euros and covers up to 80 per cent of investment costs. The de-minimis funding is issued according to the order of applications received (first come, first served).
The programme is intended to act as rapid aid for SMEs. For example, small- and medium-sized enterprises particularly impacted by the pandemic get the opportunity to install a charging point inexpensively and thus increase customer acceptance. Especially in the rural area, these facilities have a significant number of parking spaces, making the installation of publicly accessible charging infrastructure particularly attractive. Municipal companies, e.g. supply and disposal companies, can also benefit from the funding and contribute to the expansion of local charging infrastructure.
Applications can be submitted via the BAV Website.

Notice of the funding guideline on the use of federal funds under the BMVI programme: ‘Local Charging Infrastructure’ on 24 March 2021.

Funding for publicly accessible charging infrastructure

Funding to support the development of publicly accessible charging infrastructure was a success, and will be continued. In the newly launched funding programme ‘Publicly accessible charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Germany’, the BMVI is again making a total of 500 million euros available from the summer of 2021 until the end of 2025.
With the ‘Funding guideline on charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Germany’, which had been running since February 2017 and was extended until June 2021, the federal government made a total of 300 million euros available in six funding calls, supporting private investors as well as cities and municipalities in installing fast- and regular-charging points. The federal funding programme for publicly accessible charging infrastructure of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) was in high demand. Applications for the installation of 30,000 charging points were approved, of which almost 10,000 were fast-charging points.

In the newly launched funding programme ‘Publicly accessible charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Germany’, the BMVI is making a total of 500 million euros available from the summer of 2021 until the end of 2025. Regular-charging points with a charging capacity of up to 22 kW and fast-charging points with a capacity of more than 22 kW are being funded at which only DC charging is possible. Under the programme at least 50,000 charging points will be installed by the end of 2025 (at least 20,000 of which are fast-charging points) with the available budgetary funds.

On 17/08/2021 the first funding call of the newly launched funding guideline was published: ‘Publicly accessible charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Germany’. Since 31/08/2021, companies, towns and municipalities, public institutions and private individuals have been able to submit applications. The following are funded in the first funding call:

  • Around 9,000 publicly-accessible charging points with a maximum charging capacity of up to 22 Kilowatts (normal charging points),
  • Around 9,000 publicly-accessible charging points with a maximum charging capacity of more than 22 Kilowatts, at which only charging with direct current (DC) is possible and
  • The grid connection belonging to a funded charging point or the combination of grid connection and buffer storage.

On 18/08/2021 the second funding call was published: Since 09/09/2021, companies, towns and municipalities, public institutions and private individuals can receive funding for the retrofitting of existing publicly accessible charging infrastructure. The funding call is aimed on the one hand, at modernising charging points in terms of higher charging capacity and more charging comfort and on the other hand, at making existing charging infrastructure publicly accessible to all. Up to 60 per cent of the eligible costs will be funded. All charging points must be publicly accessible and powered by electricity from renewable energies. The applications can be submitted from 31/08/2021 to 18/01/2022 (first funding call) and from 09/09/2021 to 27/01/2022 (second funding call).

All information on the ongoing application and approval procedures as well as the necessary documentation can be found on the homepage of the Federal Agency for Administrative Services (Bundesanstalt für (Bundesanstalt für Verwaltungsdienstleistungen – BAV). Verwaltungsdienstleistungen (BAV).

Further information

First call for applications on 17/08/2021 under the ‘Publicly accessible charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Germany’ funding guideline from the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure of 13/07/2021
https://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Anlage/K/presse/erster-aufruf-foerderrichtlinie-oeffentlich-zugaengliche-ladeinfrastruktur-elektrofahrzeuge.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

First call for applications on 17/08/2021 under the ‘Publicly accessible charging infrastructure funding guideline for electric vehicles in Germany’ – Designation of the quotas per charging point in table form
https://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Anlage/K/presse/erster-aufruf-foerderrichtlinie-oeffentlich-zugaengliche-ladeinfrastruktur-elektrofahrzeuge-kontingente.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

First call for applications on 17/08/2021 according to the ‘Publicly accessible charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Germany’ – Allocation of postcode to contingent region and demand category SLP2 in table form
https://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Anlage/K/presse/erster-aufruf-foerderrichtlinie-oeffentlich-zugaengliche-ladeinfrastruktur-elektrofahrzeuge-zuweisung-plz.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

Second call for applications on 18/08/2021 under the ‘Publicly accessible charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Germany’
https://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Anlage/K/presse/zweiter-aufruf-foerderrichtlinie-oeffentlich-zugaengliche-ladeinfrastruktur-elektrofahrzeuge.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

Funding guidelines for fleet applications and employees

More than half of all new car registrations are in the commercial sector. Because of this, the electrification of the vehicle fleets of companies and local authorities can make an important contribution to the market ramp-up of electric mobility. The basis for this is that vehicles can be regularly and reliably charged. Companies can also make charging infrastructure available to their staff so they can recharge their vehicles in the company car park.
The federal government is also taking this charging scenario into account: commissioned by the BMVI, the Centre will develop a new funding programme for commercially used charging infrastructure. The programme enters into force in the summer of 2021, with companies, authorities and municipalities eligible to apply.

‘Charging stations for electric cars – residential buildings’ funding guideline

The majority of charging takes place at home. The ‘Charging stations for electric cars – residential buildings’ funding guideline reflects this. For the first time, the BMVI is enabling the funding of privately used charging stations for house and apartment owners, tenants and landlords or landlord associations. They can apply to the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) for a flat-rate subsidy of 900 euros for the purchase of a private charging station, including the costs of installation. Because of the high demand, the funding volume of the programme was increased three times to a total of 800 million euros.
Notice of the guideline on the use of federal funds under the ‘Charging infrastructure in residential buildings – investment grant’ of 6 October 2020

The Centre provided substantial support in the preparation and coordination of the funding guideline and will also analyse the expansion of private charging infrastructure. In this process, the Centre has ensured that the subsidised charging facilities can be digitally networked and controlled. This allows the load to be distributed intelligently so that the grid remains stable at all times. Electricity from renewable sources can also be more easily integrated.

Applications can be made through the KfW website.