A new proposal from the German government would oblige major gas station operators to also offer more high-speed chargers for electric vehicles.
The draft, submitted by the cabinet on Wednesday, would oblige companies with at least 200 filling stations to offer at least one 150 kilowatt charger at each filling station from the beginning of 2028.
The rule is expected to affect a dozen companies and result in about 8,000 new fast chargers, according to the Department of Transportation. Gas stations would receive credit for existing electric chargers already installed.
Germany currently has around 115,000 publicly accessible charging points in April, of which just under 22,000 are suitable for fast charging.
The German government’s goal is to have 15 million electric cars registered in Germany by 2030. According to figures from the German Motor Transport Authority, there were only around 1.4 million such vehicles at the beginning of this year.
The current three-party coalition has emphasized the need for a nationwide user-friendly charging infrastructure to make electric vehicles more attractive.
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said gaps in the charging network still need to be closed. Hebestreit said gas stations would be a convenient and trusted way to offer that service.
The draft proposal would provide exemptions and waivers for some gas stations based on local conditions and other reasons.
Germany’s ADAC motorists’ club said the measure would represent a major intervention in the market, but seemed justified as petrol stations are often conveniently located.
But the proposal was met with sharp criticism from gas station operators.
Achim Bothe, the CEO of Aral, the country’s largest petrol retailer, said the requirement would lead to poor investment and inefficient placement of chargers that do not meet drivers’ demands.
