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Chicken-and-Egg Problem of E-Mobility - What is Hindering the Expansion?
Internal combustion engine, hybrid, or pure battery drive - despite rising numbers of electric cars and charging stations, many people in Rhineland-Palatinate are still hesitant to buy an electric car. There is a concern that range and charging options are lacking. In addition to infrastructure and financial incentives, it's also about the dissemination of knowledge.
How has the number of electric cars developed?
An answer from the Ministry of Transport in Mainz to an inquiry from the AfD parliamentary group provides fresh figures: At the beginning of 2020, just under 5,700 purely battery-operated cars were counted in the state; this number rose to just under 30,000 by early 2022 and to more than 70,000 by early 2024. For cars with hybrid drives, the number went from just under 24,000 at the beginning of 2020 to more than 136,000 at the start of last year.
Of the approximately 81,500 newly registered cars between January and September 2024, 46 percent were equipped with alternative drives according to the State Statistical Office - 11,675 had a purely electric drive, accounting for around 14 percent, and approximately 4,500 had a plug-in hybrid drive, a share of 5.5 percent.
A look at the total number of cars between Westerwald and Südwestpfalz shows that the vast majority of vehicles on the roads in the state are still powered by combustion engines: According to the State Statistical Office, there were about 2.63 million at the start of 2024.
How has the charging infrastructure developed?
According to the state association of the energy and water industry (LDEW), the numbers are also rising here, but the occupancy of charging stations remains limited, which in turn slows down further expansion. LDEW Managing Director Horst Meierhofer speaks of a chicken-and-egg problem. According to the association, the total capacity of charging points in Rhineland-Palatinate amounted to 420 megawatts in the second half of 2024, 160 more than at the beginning of the previous year. This is explained by a strong increase in fast chargers, says Meierhofer - charging stations that enable a battery to be charged in a relatively short time.
According to LDEW, 460 normal charging stations were added in Rhineland-Palatinate last year, as well as 531 fast charging facilities - of the latter, there are now slightly more than 2,000. However, according to the association, charging stations in the state were only 12 percent occupied in the second half of 2024; even during the day, the charging points were 84 percent free according to the association.
So, is there still much to do?
A clear yes from many sides. The Association of Municipalities and Cities in Rhineland-Palatinate cites the expansion of the charging infrastructure as a continuing central task. Especially in rural areas, the infrastructure is still inadequate. "Here, intensified efforts are necessary to ensure comprehensive coverage and further promote acceptance of electromobility."
A survey by the Federal Network Agency shows that the number of charging stations varies significantly by region: For example, in Mainz-Bingen district there are about 166, whereas in the much less densely populated district of Birkenfeld there are only 34. It should be noted that there are many single-family homes in the rural areas of Rhineland-Palatinate, according to the Pfalzwerke in Ludwigshafen. Therefore, many private individuals have the option to install their own wallbox - a charging station for charging their own vehicle at home. The need for public charging infrastructure is lower in rural areas than in metropolitan areas, where people rely on public charging options.
The municipalities assume a supportive role, identifying suitable locations for charging stations and working closely with companies and utility providers, says the Association of Municipalities and Cities.
"However, it is not the task of the towns and communities to build their own charging infrastructure - just as little as municipalities operate gas stations."
Pfalzwerke operate 1,750 charging points at 420 locations nationwide, 555 of which are in Rhineland-Palatinate. According to the company's assessment, the expansion is going well. Whether a charging station is well used depends on its location and visibility, the speed of the charging process, and the customer frequency on site. If, for instance, a station is located in front or next to a frequently visited hardware store or supermarket, this has a direct impact on utilization. Faster approval procedures and a strong, well-developed green energy network are needed.
How could the expansion of e-mobility be accelerated?
According to Meierhofer from LDEW, fewer subsidy programs that are eventually phased out are needed. He would prefer tax incentives for private individuals. Meierhofer also considers it a stumbling block that there is still a lack of e-models in the small car segment - precisely the segment that is particularly used in cities and for short distances and where large ranges are not crucial.
The surprising cancellation of the federal premiums for electric cars has greatly unsettled consumers, says the Association of Municipalities and Cities. Many people hope for the introduction of new incentive measures by a new federal government and for a broader range of affordable electric vehicles with sufficient range.
"Uncertainties also come from electricity prices - if they rise, electromobility becomes more expensive as well."
Pfalzwerke states that in addition to financial incentives, targeted education and information dissemination around e-mobility and electric cars are needed to dispel prejudices and strengthen acceptance and willingness to switch to an e-car. E-cars, for example, do not have engine vibrations like combustion engines and offer some comforts such as the usually integrated auxiliary heater or a standing air conditioning for the summer.
Pfalzwerke expects that the model ranges of car manufacturers will expand, especially in small and compact cars.
"From 2025, CO2 fleet targets for new cars will tighten, forcing automakers to increase sales of e-vehicles to avoid penalty payments."
At the same time, battery prices are falling. Technical advances are likely to alleviate many people's fear of too small a range of electric cars.
Content automatically translated.
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