Major Developments in 2024

During 2024, nearly 2.8 million electric vehicles were registered in Germany. Around 1.8 million were battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and 1 million were plug-in hybrids. In the first half of 2024, the share of newly registered BEVs dropped to 13%, down from 16% in the same period of 2023. By the end of the year, BEVs accounted for about 14% of the market, with 380,609 new registrations – a 27% decline year-over-year.

In 2024, especially Volkswagens (VW) electric lineup made a strong showing with six of its models finishing among the top 10 best-selling BEVs, behind only the Tesla Model Y3 . In order to be well-positioned, VW has provided an early outlook on its entry-level model, the ID.2. German vehicle manufacturers struggled in 2024 to achieve their BEV targets.

Several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) revised their strategies. Mercedes-Benz, for example “expects sales of electrified vehicles, including hybrids, to account for up to 50% of the total by 2030 – five years later than its forecast from 2021” , Volkswagen and Audi “consider keeping individual combustion models running longer in Europe” as well as Porsche, which wants to expand “the product portfolio to include additional vehicle models with internal combustion engines or plug-in hybrids”.

The German government aims for 15 million electric cars by 2030. From 2016 to 2023, this was supported by a total of around €10 billion with the environmental bonus programme for around 2.1 million electric vehicles. After the end of the programme in 2023, vehicle sales were significantly impacted.

Manufacturers tried to compensate for the bonus by introducing discount campaigns. Despite scarce financial resources, the German government is supporting electric mobility by expanding the charging infrastructure, aiming to create one million publicly accessible charging points by 2030.

Charging Infrastructure
Since April 2017, the German Bundesnetzagentur has provided an interactive map of electric vehicle charging points, displaying locations and technical specifications of registered charging points. Following a recent update, the map also includes a summary of publicly accessible charging stations across Germany. Based on the Bundesnetzagentur’s documented inventory, as of December 2024, Germany had 154,037 charging points, comprising 120,618 standard and 33,419 fast charging points, distributed across 83,995 publicly accessible charging facilities. Compared to the same dataset from the end of 2023, which reported 68,848 charging facilities, the number increased by 22% during 2024.

Demonstration Projects

Elektro-Mobil: NEFTON and e-Haul
On July 19, 2024, Germany introduced the world’s first megawatt charging system for electric heavy-duty trucks—a significant milestone driving progress toward climate-neutral road freight. This groundbreaking development is backed by the Elektro-Mobil program under the NEFTON project. The megawatt charging system allows a heavy-duty truck to fully recharge in under 30 minutes during the driver’s legally mandated break, enabling up to 4.5 hours of continued operation without additional stops.

This innovation not only enhances the efficiency and practicality of electric trucks, but also represents a major step forward in reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable transportation solutions.

In parallel, the eHaul project is actively developing an innovative automated battery-swapping system. This system is designed to serve as a flexible alternative to traditional charging methods, specifically addressing grid constraints that can hinder the widespread adoption of electric trucks.

By enabling quick and efficient battery swaps, the system supports a broader rollout of electric trucks, ensuring that they can operate seamlessly without being limited by the availability of charging infrastructure. This approach not only enhances the operational efficiency of electric trucks, but also contributes to the overall sustainability and reliability of the electric vehicle ecosystem. The development of this system is backed by extensive research and collaboration, as evidenced by references.

Outlook

To increase the adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), the German government has set an ambitious target to have one million public charging points available by 2030, with a particular emphasis on fast-charging infrastructure. To achieve this, the government has developed a comprehensive plan known as the Masterplan for Charging Infrastructure II. This plan outlines a detailed strategy that prioritises simplicity, convenience, and speed in both the construction and operation of charging infrastructure.

The plan includes several key initiatives aimed at streamlining the process for installing and maintaining charging stations. These focus on reducing bureaucratic hurdles, standardising technical requirements, and ensuring that charging points are easily accessible to all users. Additionally, the plan emphasises the importance of integrating charging infrastructure into urban planning and development projects to ensure widespread availability.

Furthermore, the German government aims to make the development and operation of charging infrastructure an attractive business model. By offering incentives and creating a favourable regulatory environment, the government hopes to stimulate stronger investment from the private sector. This approach is designed to encourage private companies to participate in the expansion of the charging network, thereby accelerating the rollout of charging points across the country.

It also highlights the importance of collaboration between stakeholders, including government agencies, private companies, and local communities. By working together, they can ensure the charging infrastructure meets the needs of all users and supports the broader goal of transitioning to a climate-neutral transportation system.

Overall, the masterplan represents a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to building the necessary infrastructure to support the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in Germany. By focusing on simplicity, convenience, and speed, and by fostering strong private sector involvement, the plan aims to create a robust and reliable charging network that will help drive the transition to a sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation system.