Germany will spend €6.3 billion to scale up EV charging stations in the next three years

Germany's federal government today approved a plan to spend €6.3 billion over the next three years to quickly scale up the number of EV charging stations across the country.

Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing said: "We know that electromobility is ramping up rapidly, so we have to be quick".

Longer-term, the government wants to enact a 14-fold increase in the number of charging stations in the country - up to 1 million by 2030, from around 70,000 now. The focus will go to towns and cities which are currently undersupplied.

Currently there are around 1.5 million EVs on the roads in Germany, and that number is intended to climb to 15 million by 2030. Thus, charging infrastructure is essential. Part of the plan is to speed up state approvals for building charging points.

Wissing goes on to say: "Our goal: to accelerate the expansion of charging infrastructure, simplify the charging process and thus make it easier for people to switch".

Industry associations had a mixed reaction to the news, as they have long complained that the government's measures have generally not kept pace with the rapid expansion of EV sales in the country. Why those associations haven't done more themselves to increase the number of EV chargers in Germany is a good question, of course.

The German Association of the Automotive Industry said this is an important step and the speed of implementation is now key, while on the other hand, the BDEW energy and water business association said the proposals would lead to more planning and state control, calling them expensive window-dressing.

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