On 19 August 2019, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI – Bundesministerium für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur) published its fourth funding call to support the expansion of publicly accessible charging infrastructure. With immediate effect, new applications for the funding of e-charging stations can now be submitted.

With this fourth funding call of the federal Charging Infrastructure programme, the BMVI is supporting the construction of up to 5,000 normal and 5,000 fast charging points. Around 100 million euros have been allocated for this purpose. Applications must be submitted via the easy-Online portal by 30 October 2019.

The federal Charging Infrastructure programme of the BMVI continues to attract great interest. To date, applications have been approved for a total of around 16,000 charging points, including around 13,300 normal charging points and around 2,350 fast charging points. This corresponds to a funding volume of more than 78 million euros. As a result, the number of existing charging points has more than doubled. The successful applications from the third funding call at the end of 2018 / beginning of 2019 are to be approved in the coming weeks. In the context of this third funding call, support for the establishment of 5,153 normal and 5,301 fast charging points was applied for.

The web-based location tool, which can identify supply gaps in the nationwide charging network, will also be utilised in the fourth funding call. This tool incorporates traffic and mobile data as well as user data from electric vehicles and socio-economic data. With the help of this tool, a nationwide and demand-oriented development of charging infrastructure is warranted.

The aim of the federal Charging Infrastructure programme is to establish a nationwide charging infrastructure with 15,000 charging stations across Germany. The BMVI has earmarked a total of 300 million euros for this purpose up until 2020. Applications for funding can be submitted by private investors, cities and municipalities. The funding covers up to 50 percent of the eligible costs and, in addition to the construction of the charging station, also the connection to the grid and installation. Among the criteria for funding is that the charging stations must be accessible to the public and be powered by electricity from renewable sources.

Further information on the federal Charging Infrastructure programme can be found at:
www.now-gmbh.de/en/bundesfoerderung-ladeinfrastruktur/foerderrichtlinie-foerderaufrufe

In the coming weeks, the BMVI’s programme management organisation, NOW GmbH, together with regional partners, will provide information on the Charging Infrastructure funding programme in various German cities. More information on the dates can be found at: www.now-gmbh.de/en