Parliament Adopts Electromobility Act

Yesterday, the Bundestag (Parliament) adopted the Electromobility Act, which aims to promote electromobility by special rights for electric cars, but does not foresee direct aid. Apart from electric cars certain hybrid cars and fuel cell powered vehicles also benefit.

Bundestag adopted the bill (ref. no. 18/3418) as amended by the Transport Committee (18/4174).

The Electromobility Act enables municipalities to grant electric and certain hybrid and fuel cell powered cars privileges so as to promote sales.

Privileges can be granted for

• parking on public roads (Parken auf öffentlichen Straßen oder Wegen);
• using public roads or parts thereof, e.g. bus lanes;
• exemptions for areas with limited access for cars (durch Ausnahmen von Zufahrtbeschränkungen oder Durchfahrtverboten);
• and with regard to parking fees charged for parking on public roads.

Bundestag extended the scope of the law to certain electric vehicles used for delivering freight, e.g. for delivery in towns and cities.

The Electromobility Act stipulates that various aspects relating to the privileges for cars benefitting from the Act will be further specified by ordinances. This applies in particular to

• special signs for the cars that benefit from the law (cf. Section 4); this is to them easily distinguishable;
• special traffic signs (cf. Section 3 para. 3 no. 3).

According to the Federal Transport Ministry, the Federal Council that represents the interests of the Federal States will presumably hear the bill in late March. Following adoption the bill has to be promulgated and will enter into force the day thereafter. The application of the law shall be limited in time to 30 June 2030.

On 1 January 2015, only 18,948 electric cars were registered in Germany.

Source: Bundestag

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