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Why Germans are obsessed with electric cars

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Dan Becker
Why Germans are obsessed with electric cars

They’re popping up in more and more cities all over the country: Electric cars. Although off to a slow start initially, German drivers are now increasingly obsessed with alternative cars. It’s undeniable: Amongst German car buyers, both electric and hybrid cars are suddenly becoming hugely popular. And for good reasons - they’re innovative, environmentally friendly and, thanks to the German government, often cheaper. 

 

It’s new

German consumers have a thing for innovative technologies. While generally cautious and reserved people, Germans lose all of their inhibitions when it comes to trying out new ways of doing things. A passionate mobility country, Germany is made up of loyal Mercedes, BMW, and VW buyers. International car brands are at best fourth or fifth choice in the new car market.

As German manufacturers increasingly push out new electric and hybrid models, Germans are more and more open to trying out eco-friendly car options. An upward trend: When last year the German government's goal of having 1 million electric cars in the streets by January 2020 still fell terribly short, the second half of 2020 is crushing it. This year has already seen a whopping 182% increase in newly registered electric cars in Germany. This is huge, especially during times when markets and consumers alike have been heavily impacted by Covid-19. 

 

It’s green

Apart from loving new technologies, Germans are also becoming increasingly environmentally conscious. This is due to stricter regulations and an increased push by the German government for greener alternatives to conventional mobility options. Consumers have more than simply “given in” to measures such as “environmental stickers” for cars. These so-called Umweltplaketten are vignettes that cars require to enter certain zones in German cities. Only cars that are low in emissions and can prove this with a vignette are allowed to drive and park there. It applies to passenger vehicles and small trucks, so the majority of the driving population is familiar with the concept  - and residents are embracing it. 

Most Germans know whether their car is low or high in emissions. Not least because of mandatory car inspections. In Germany, any car older than 3 years has to undergo a full inspection and emissions test every 24 months. This is called the “TÜV” in Germany. Cars that don’t pass this inspection have to get issues resolved immediately or they get pulled off the street. A driver whose car doesn’t have a valid TÜV inspection and gets into an accident, may also not be fully covered by insurance

 

It’s cheaper

Government subsidies for electric cars aren’t a new concept in Germany. In 2009 the government passed legislation that incentivized car buyers to exchange their old, high emission cars for lower emissions, hybrid and electric cars - by offering a generous cash bonus. 

A very similar measure was passed again during the first wave of the Corona pandemic in spring 2020. The big stimulus package launched by the German government included once again major cash bonuses for car buyers opting to buy electric and hybrid cars, rather than conventional vehicles. Buyers can receive up to 9.000 Euros cash towards their purchase of a new electric car. And Germans love a good bargain. The only downside is that due to the high increase in demand, wait times for many electric car models are currently anywhere between 4-6 months. 

 

Electric cars in Germany

The latest governmental push to incentivize the purchase of electric cars certainly contributed towards a strong increase in German demand for electric cars. Also, the infrastructure around the country is finally improving. Recharging stations for electric cars are popping up everywhere - in Berlin alone there are currently 645 public loading stations

Many Germans also install charging stations in their garages or on the side of their single-family homes. Others increasingly ditch conventional car-sharing options for electric car-sharing alternatives. Whether they own a car or rent one on a regular basis - Germans are becoming increasingly obsessed with driving electric cars.

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Dan Becker
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