Germany will reportedly require all gas stations to provide electric car charging ports as part of a €130 billion ($147 billion) economic recovery plan.
This move, according to Reuters, could provide a "significant boost" to EV demand in the country—which is doubling its stimulus payment (upwards of $10,000) for folks buying electric vehicles. The government also earmarked $2.8 billion for battery cell production and charging infrastructure.
"It's a very clear commitment to battery-powered vehicles and establishes electric mobility as a technology of the future," sustainable energy firm The Mobility House said in a statement, published by Reuters. "Internationally, this puts Germany in the leading group of battery electric vehicle support."
Nationwide demand for EVs remains low (only 1.8 percent of new passenger car registrations last year), mostly due to concerns over vehicles' limited range. More charging stations, however, means more opportunities to juice up, which means less customer anxiety. As of March 2020, Germany had 27,730 electric car charging stations, Reuters reported, citing energy and water industry association BDEW. To reach its mass market goal, the country needs at least 70,000 charging stations and 7,000 fast charging stations.
French President Emmanuel Macron last week announced a similar $9 billion rescue plan, including grants of up to $7,900 to encourage electric vehicle sales and $3,400 bonuses for people upgrading to "a less polluting car," the BBC said. In an effort to entice customers, France is also planning to triple the volume of battery charge points to 100,000 by the end of next year, and wants to ensure one million electric cars are manufactured in the country annually by 2025.
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