E-mobility could lead to lower household power prices in Germany

The growing number of electric cars in Germany could in the long run bring down household power prices, the research institute Fraunhofer ISI says in a press release. In 2030, when “the energy system’s transformation is presumed to be very advanced,” greater capacity utilisation due to sector coupling could reduce electricity prices for households by up to four percent, since infrastructure costs for the most part are fixed, the researchers say. However, in some regions the effect could also go in the opposite direction, they add. To keep grid investment costs low, Fraunhofer ISI recommends a “managed charging” standard for e-cars that accounts for the grid’s workload and power prices and phases charging processes accordingly. The researchers estimate that four million e-cars will be registered in Germany by 2030.

Find the press release in German here.

See the CLEW factsheet What German households pay for power for background.