Shortly before the deadline: record funding for e-cars

The first premiums for electric cars were paid out by the federal government in 2016. Since then, the purchase of around 1.64 million cars has been subsidised. Demand for the subsidy experienced a particular surge in 2020, when the environmental bonus consisting of the state premium and the manufacturer's share, which had applied until then, was increased by a further sum. This so-called innovation premium resulted in a 100 % surcharge on the subsidy amount offered by the state (max. 9,000 euros).

Such attractive conditions have persuaded numerous consumers to buy a new car in the past three years. The record year is the past year 2022, in which the proud sum of 3.2 billion euros (2021: 3.1 billion euros) flowed to the buyers of battery vehicles, fuel cell cars as well as plug-in hybrids. According to the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control in Eschborn, the total is about 640,000 vehicles (2021: 625,260).

No more subsidies for hybrids

This year, 2023, the subsidy pots are significantly less full: On the one hand, according to the ADAC, the premiums will drop to a total budget of 2.1 billion euros, and on the other hand, 2022 was the last year that plug-in hybrids were eligible for subsidies. Such vehicles, which have an internal combustion engine in addition to the electric drive, are no longer eligible for subsidies from now on.

Subsidies are therefore only possible for fully electric cars. The subsidy for an electric car costing up to 40,000 euros is currently only 4,500 euros instead of 6,000 euros as in 2022. And for electric vehicles up to a net list price of 65,000 euros, the state no longer pays 5,000 euros, but only 3,000 euros. However, the manufacturer's subsidy must be added to these amounts. Next year, the premiums will decrease further.

The registration date counts

The registration date is decisive for the amount of the premium: After the changed eligibility conditions in the last weeks of December led to a run on the vehicle registration offices and the leading associations of the automotive industry had called for keeping the registration offices open as long as possible in the old year in order to allow as many buyers as possible to benefit from the still high bonuses, the bonus this year will be significantly lower than expected.

In combination with the currently high electricity prices, the curtailment of state subsidies could even lead to a slump in electric car sales. The record sales of 720,000 cars last year could halve to about 362,000 by 2024.

Source: tagesschau.de, 21.12.2022
Image: andreas160578 on Pixabay