The Federal Cabinet today adopted the increase and extension of the environmental bonus for electric vehicles. Reinhard Zirpel, President of the Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (VDIK), said: “The higher environmental bonus can give electric mobility in Germany a significant boost. This is a clear signal to car buyers: it is worth buying electric vehicles. Above all, we welcome the fact that the Federal Government is now implementing the increase in the purchase premium as quickly as possible rather than at the beginning of 2021, as originally planned. This will avoid any possible reluctance to buy and will enable further dynamic growth in the market for electric vehicles”.
The environmental bonus is thus to be extended by five years until the end of 2025 and also increased. With a net list price of less than 40,000 euros, battery electric vehicles (BEV) will receive a total of 6,000 euros and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) 4,500 euros. With a net list price of more than 40,000 and up to 65,000 Euros, BEV will receive 5,000 Euros and PHEV 3,750 Euros. The bonus is to be paid half each by the federal government and the participating manufacturers. It is also to be welcomed that, for the first time, the environmental bonus can also be applied for for young used e-vehicles under certain conditions.
The international manufacturers are also supporting the construction of charging stations for electric vehicles. In the master plan for charging infrastructure, the automotive industry undertakes, among other things, to make around 15,000 charging points available on company premises and in associated retail outlets by the end of 2022. The international manufacturers will participate with at least 5,000 charging points. They are already providing numerous charging stations for employees, customers and, in some cases, the public.
The decisive contribution of the international manufacturers to the ramp-up of electric mobility is their wide range of currently almost 50 electric models. Battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids are now available to German customers in a wide variety, also thanks to the offerings of international manufacturers.
