EU Commission: green light to German state aid for e-truck fast charging stations
The scheme notified by the German authorities and managed by Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes envisages the deployment of up to 1,410 charging points for e-HDVs in over 120 non-serviced rest sites along the German motorways. More into details, the aid of up to €1.6 billion will take the form of direct grants and recurring payments covering part of the construction and operating costs for the duration of the contracts.
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a German scheme of up to €1.6 billion to support the deployment of publicly accessible fast-charging stations for electric heavy-duty vehicles at non-serviced rest sites along the German motorways.
The scheme notified by the German authorities and managed by Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes envisages the deployment of up to 1,410 charging points for e-HDVs in over 120 non-serviced rest sites along the German motorways.
German state aid for e-truck fast charging stations
More into details, the aid of up to €1.6 billion will take the form of direct grants and recurring payments covering part of the construction and operating costs for the duration of the contracts. The latter will last for eight years, with a possibility to extend to up to 12 years.
All participating charging point operators will offer different pricing options: an ad-hoc pricing model (without needing a subscription), a contract-based pricing model, and a “pass-through” pricing mode (where the drivers can use the pricing of their own energy supplier). These models increase choice at charging points, which ensures sufficient price competition. The measure also provides for a charging network fee, which will be included in the price charged for using the funded infrastructure and which the operators will pay back to the Federal Government.
EU Commission, green light to the scheme
As stated in the official press note issued in these days, EU Commission found that:
- The scheme is necessary and appropriate to allow for the deployment of fast-charging infrastructure at a large scale on German motorways, and to ramp up the e-HDV charging infrastructure, which will in turn increase demand;
- The measure has an “incentive effect” as the beneficiaries would not carry out the relevant investments to the same extent and within the same timeframe without the public support; and
- The measure puts in place sufficient safeguards to ensure that the scheme has a limited impact on competition and trade within the EU.
