The German government wants people to embrace electric vehicles, so they’ve taken a number of steps to make them more appealing to consumers.
First and foremost, the government will double incentives to encourage people to buy EVs.
According to CNN, consumers will now be able to get a €6,000 ($6,806 / £5,397) subsidy on electric vehicles costing up to €40,000 ($45,373 / £35,980). The publication also noted the total incentive increases to as much as €9,000 ($10,210 / £8,096) when the “existing contribution from manufacturers is included.”
Also Read: France Tops EU Countries With Generous $13,000 EV Incentive
The increased incentive should be a boon for Volkswagen and its new ID.3 which has faced a series of setbacks in recent months. Among the problems have been a temporary halt into production due to the coronavirus and rumors about countless software issues.
Reuters noted the move could also boost sales of other affordable electric vehicles including the BMW i3, Peugeot e-208, Renault Zoe and Tesla Model 3. More expensive models will also be eligible for subsides, but they won’t qualify for the full amount.
The increased incentives were part of a €130 ($147 / £117) billion package designed to revive the German economy which has faltered as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The package has a large focus on eco-friendly vehicle as it provides funding for their research and development as well as increased fees on vehicles with CO2 emissions higher than 95 g/km.
The package calls for gas stations to install chargers for electric vehicles. Like the incentives, this is designed to make EVs more appealing as a lack of charging stations has often been cited as one of the biggest issues facing electric vehicles.
