If you've been thinking about buying an electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid car in Germany, there's one more reason to do so: Anyone who buys or leases an EV in Germany can now rely on up to €6,000 in state subsidies.
As of Tuesday, May 19th, the online portal to register for the subsidy has been opened. So if you've purchased a new EV since the start of this year, you'll want to apply there soon to ensure you get some cash back.
More information about what you need to apply is found here, and the application portal can be found here.
Previously confirming the details in Berlin, Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) said that the state-funded support for e-mobility is intended to help "protect the climate and to be less dependent on the power games of the oil states and fluctuating fuel prices."
Schneider said that the newly confirmed subsidies should give German and European automakers a boost, adding that there are "really cool cars on the market from German manufacturers."
How much can you get?
The subsidies are targeted towards low- and middle income households, with higher amounts available to households with lower incomes.
In total the purchase bonuses amount to between €1,500 and €6,000, depending on your income.
There is an income cap of €80,000 per household, or €90,000 for a household with two children. If your household's total taxable income is more than this, you wouldn't be eligible for this subsidy.
For eligible households, the basic subsidy for EVs is €3,000.
For households with an income of no more than €60,000, it's a bit higher at €4,000, and for households with a maximum income of €45,000, the subsidy is €5,000.
With about half of the households that have purchased an EV in recent years having an income at or below €80,000, the government assumes that the lower half of EV purchasers can benefit from the bonus going forward.
Company cars are subsidised by lower tax rates.
There is also money available for the purchase of plug-in hybrid cars, which can run on both electricity and fuel, although at a lower rate. This also applies to EVs with a range extender, which is a small combustion engine intended to extend the range of an electric car.
Hybrids must not emit more than 60 grams of CO2 per kilometre, and those with a range extender must have an electric range of at least 80 kilometres to be eligible for the bonus.
For these vehicles, the basic subsidy is €1,500.
Funding for these subsidies is to come from the Climate and Transformation Fund, which was among the "special funds" that the government approved last year.
READ ALSO: Why 'Sondervermögen' is Germany’s ugliest word of the year
Therefore the environment minister said there is not the risk of the bonus running out of funding and being abruptly stopped.
Most German customers buy from German brands
According to Schneider about 80 percent of the newly registered EVs and plug-in hybrids bought in Germany last year were made in Europe.
He added, "This year, even more and cheaper models from the German manufacturers will be launched."
According to figures from the Federal Motor Transport Authority, the eleven most common newly registered EV cars in Germany last year were from the VW Group or the BMW Group. Volkswagen's ID.7 and ID.3 topped the list.
READ ALSO: Volkswagen unveils new affordable EVs to hit the German market
Regarding hybrids, seven of the ten most popular models come from BMW, Mercedes or the VW Group.
If you are thinking about buying an EV and are not yet sure which kind, you might consider this recent evaluation (in German) by the auto association ADAC, which looked at EVs on the German market and graded them for performance, cost and also value for money.Â
With reporting by DPA.
Comments