Elektromobilität: Verbraucherzentralen für Kaufanreize für günstige E-Autos

Verbraucherzentralen call for stronger government incentives for cheaper electric cars. Ramona Pop, head of the Federal Association, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur that to make e-mobility affordable for people with lower and middle incomes, subsidies should be tied to the vehicle price. "That would strengthen cheaper and more efficient models and, in the long run, ensure more affordable EVs on the second-hand market," she said. A subsidy should only be paid up to a certain list price, according to the association.

Pop criticized the current rule, which provides aid to households earning up to 90,000 euros, even if they don't need state support for purchasing an EV. Over 100,000 applications were submitted in May for a federal program launched in January 2026 that promotes the purchase and leasing of electric cars and certain plug-in hybrids.

The subsidy amount depends on the vehicle, income, and family size and can reach up to 6,000 euros. The aid limit is a taxable household income of 80,000 euros, or 90,000 euros for larger families.

The Verbraucherzentralen also call for better charging infrastructure conditions. "The expansion of charging stations is progressing steadily, but there is still significant room for improvement," said Pop. Especially renters and residents of multi-family houses without private charging stations need an adequately developed public infrastructure.

More transparency is also needed. Different prices at charging points are hard to understand, making charging unnecessarily complicated. All ad-hoc charging prices must be available in an app, Pop said. Charging contracts should be easier to compare. According to a Forsa survey conducted on behalf of the association, 66 percent of respondents cited purchase costs and charging options as important factors in buying decisions, while 65 percent mentioned range expansion.

Public charging points and simpler public charging were also important, mentioned by 63 percent each. The survey, conducted by Institut Forsa from August 3-5, included 1,009 people aged 18 and above. The base for the answers consisted of 815 respondents who admitted to driving an auto at least occasionally.