The chair of the steering committee of the National Platform for Electric Mobility (NPE), Professor Henning Kagermann, presented the NPE's 2014 progress report to Chancellor Merkel today. This report marks the conclusion of the NPE's market preparation phase (2010 to 2014) and describes the current situation. In the report, the NPE also makes proposals for the upcoming market start-up phase (2015 to 2017) which focus on how Germany can achieve its goals of becoming a leading supplier and lead market in the field of electric mobility by 2020. The German government will review the NPE recommendations, monitor market development and support it with a further policy framework. On 24 September 2014 the Federal Cabinet adopted the Electric Mobility Act (Elektromobilitätsgesetz, EmoG). Under the act, local authorities can decide in future how they prioritise electric vehicles in their area, for instance by granting free parking or offering special access rights.
One of the findings of the NPE report is that Germany is on track to become a leading player in the international electric mobility market. This is both a commendation and an incentive. The NPE views the German government's strategy for the market preparation phase as successful. This strategy focused on research and development, standardisation, education and qualification. The step-by-step implementation of the government programme for electric mobility played a decisive role in this success.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Sigmar Gabriel: "I consider it important that Germany not only proves itself as a centre for research and technology in the field of electric mobility, but also confirms and develops its status as a manufacturing location. This particularly includes the production of the battery cells – the heart of the electric mobility sector. We also want the expansion of both private and publicly accessible charging infrastructure to continue. To promote this aim, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs will adapt the legal regulations as necessary to ensure the security, interoperability and intelligent networking of charging facilities."
Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Alexander Dobrandt: "Germany is Europe's most important industrial location and the headquarters of companies that lead the field in technology. We have optimum starting conditions to give electric mobility vital momentum. By the end of this year, 17 German electric vehicle models will be on the market, another 12 will join them in the course of 2015. We are now entering the market start-up phase. Our Electric Mobility Act gives consumers further incentives to purchase an electric vehicle. In a second stage we will expand the charging infrastructure. A test route for longer journeys has already been established on the A9 motorway. We will build on this to give Germany a basic supply network with quick-charging points. Around 400 additional charging posts will be established at motorway services stations throughout the country. We aim to make it possible in future to drive an electric vehicle from Germany's North Sea coast to the Zugspitze in the south of the country."
Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Barbara Hendricks: "The National Platform for Electric Mobility's progress report shows clearly that we are making headway. Electric mobility is now fit for daily use and the wide range of models, including some from German manufacturers, gives us a strong position internationally. Electric vehicles improve living conditions in cities and municipalities by reducing air and noise pollution. However, they can only be effective against climate change if the number of them on the roads rises substantially. I am working to improve the framework conditions to bring this about."
Federal Minister for Education and Research, Johanna Wanka: "Germany aims to become a leading player in the field of electric mobility. If we are to avoid losing value added, battery cells must also be manufactured in Germany. Our research has made good progress and the pilot plant in Ulm, established with the broad participation of industry, provides an excellent basis. We now need to move towards production on an industrial scale. I will work to achieve this goal."
The NPE will continue its work. In summer 2015 the German government will host a national electric mobility conference in Berlin.