Customers surprised – Germans end e-car funding – and Austria?

Germany completely unexpectedly abolished funding for the purchase of electric cars almost overnight. Thousands of customers look through their fingers and feel cheated. Customers in Austria are alarmed – but in this country everything essentially remains the same when it comes to funding. Except for the plug-in hybrids.

Planning security looks different than what is happening with our neighbors. Only applications received by December 17th will be processed. According to the ministry, e-car funding should actually expire at the end of 2024 – or before, if the funds have been used up. And it is precisely with this aside that the government is now justifying itself. There was never a “funding guarantee”, but it was clear: “When the money is gone, it is gone,” says Finance Minister Christian Lindner, the innocent lamb. It is different in Austria: Here it was recently decided how to promote electromobility continues. “The total funding budget for e-mobility from the Climate Protection Ministry for the coming year is 114.5 million euros,” says the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology. That’s more than before and an amount that should be enough for new registrations in 2024 – although the state is even adding a little extra when it comes to electric two-wheelers.E-car subsidy as usualIf you want to buy an electric car, you can count on the same amounts and requirements leave as before. Private individuals receive a state subsidy of 3,000 euros from the state and 2,000 euros from the dealer, which makes 5,400 euros including VAT. Provided that the basic model does not cost more than 60,000 euros gross. The state no longer offers any subsidies for plug-in hybrids, although newer models offer electric ranges that make them suitable for everyday use for many owners using purely battery power. The funding has expired and will no longer be taken up. Higher state funding for electric two-wheelers There will be increased federal funding shares for electrically motorized two-wheelers from 2024. For e-mopeds, the federal funding share will be increased from 450 euros to 600 euros, for e-motorcycles with an output of less than 11 kW the federal share will increase from 700 to 1,200 euros, and e-motorcycles over 11 kW will be funded by the state instead of 1,400 in the future funded with 1800 euros. In addition, there is the dealer share (which remains the same) of 350 euros for e-mopeds and 500 euros for e-motorcycles. Wall boxes and charging cables receive up to 600 euros, and those who install shared systems in apartment buildings receive up to 1,800 euros. There is funding of up to 30,000 euros for publicly accessible charging infrastructure. A further 10 million euros are earmarked in the LADIN funding program to advance charging infrastructure in previously underserved areas. “Traffic is still the problem child in climate protection,” said Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler. “With the e-mobility offensive, we are supporting the switch to emission-free cars.” Almost a quarter of registrations are electric. The ministry believes that e-mobility funding is definitely bringing about the desired success: in October, more than 23 percent of new car registrations were recorded purely electrically powered vehicles. And almost 3 percent of all registered cars are electric cars. Taxpayers finance the funding. Consumer advocates in Germany criticize the surprising end to the electric car funding, but not the end itself. “Purchase bonuses were important in the short term to stimulate the spread of electric cars,” says consumer advocate Marion Jungbluth. In the long term, however, the market ramp-up cannot be financed at the expense of taxpayers.
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