Fast Chargers: Government Wants to Make Gas Stations Compulsory Builders

With the increasing establishment of e-mobility and in view of the target of 15 million electric cars by 2030, a significant additional charging demand will arise, writes the federal government.

“To safely meet this demand, regulatory measures should also be taken.”

The legislative amendment therefore aims to equip a significant portion of public gas stations with fast-charging infrastructure starting in 2028. This is intended to contribute to the demand-oriented and nationwide expansion of the charging infrastructure beyond the year 2025 (the planning horizon of the German power grid) and to strengthen confidence in e-mobility, according to the draft law.

In order to give obligated gas station companies the opportunity to partially determine the site selection for the provision of charging infrastructure based on their own economic considerations or other factors, such as local conditions, the draft bill provides for a flexibility mechanism.

This is intended to offer up to 50 percent of the affected gas stations the possibility to additionally provide the charging point either at another gas station location of the company or within a 1,000-meter radius.

The petroleum industry has been asked in the past to commit to making a substantial contribution to the development of fast-charging infrastructure, the federal government writes. It was supposed to declare its intention to equip at least 25 percent of all gas stations with fast-charging infrastructure (at least 150 kilowatts) by the end of 2022, at least 50 percent by the end of 2024, and at least 75 percent by the end of 2026.

The petroleum industry has not complied with these demands “despite corresponding funding programs,” according to the submission.

As of March 2024, fast-charging points with a charging capacity of at least 150 kilowatts are available at only around seven percent of gas stations in Germany.

Translated automatically from German.