The German €300 million subsidy pot of the government, providing up to €10 200 for installing an EV wallbox in combination with solar panels and a backup battery, was exhausted in less than one day, the KfW Development Bank reported.

The proposed subsidy was offered for private owners of an existing electric vehicle or those proving they had already ordered one for the near future. In less than 24 hours, some 33 000 requests were treated, despite some technical difficulties.

Limited grid capacity

The German Ministry of Transport put aside €500 million to push the installation of private solar-powered EV chargers at home, with the idea that this could ease the pressure on the electricity grid in peak hours. Hence, the requirement to add a battery backup system. The remaining €200 million of the initial 500 will be released later.

Germany today has some 79 000 regular EV charging points active and 18 500 fast chargers for more than a million EVs circulating in the country as registered by the end of 2022. By 2030, the German government wants to push that figure to more than 15 million.

Fastned to triple its network

Dutch Fastned will triple its fast charging network in Germany after winning 92 ‘search areas’ in the so-called ‘Deutschlandnetz’ tender. Those areas in the south and west of the country, designated by the government, are possible locations where Fastned will be the preferred partner to build charging stations in the next four years.

Today, Fastned has 37 stations operational in Germany. A few weeks ago, it signed its first contract in Italy with highway managing A4 Holding Group to build a large charging station along the A4 Brescia – Padova highway in northern Italy, close to the Brescia Est exit. It’s the 8th European country where Fastned has established its presence.

Fastned already operates 275 fast charging stations in the Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, and Switzerland, aiming at 1 000 stations across Europe.