Lack of charging options in apartment buildings hurdle to Germany’s e-car roll-out – study

Most residents of German apartment buildings are unable to charge an electric car at home, according to a study by influential drivers’ club ADAC. Only 4 percent of apartment buildings assessed had a power connection in the garage, and only half of these a charging device. With apartment blocks the most common form of housing for German city dwellers, this is expected to hinder the roll out of e-mobility, the study finds. ADAC says high costs, lack of demand from residents and regulatory uncertainties have kept landlords from installing charging facilities, and only about a quarter of those surveyed planned to do so within the next three years. “Given these circumstances, it will scarcely be possible to make e-mobility available for everyone who is interested,” ADAC said. E-car charging stations at home are essential, the club says, because e-car owners do around 60 percent of charging at home. 

By May this year, Germany had around 17,400 public or semi-public charging points across the country, according to energy industry group BDEW, but demand for charging points is projected to rise substantially. A trial by energy company E.ON showed that investments in grid infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of e-cars is likely to be much lower than anticipated.