In order to achieve the 2030 climate goals, seven to ten million in Germany should e-cars be approved. This represents between 30 and 40% of the total market. In order to encourage buying, the federal government introduced the environmental bonus.
Environmental bonus: What will change in 2024?
Following a ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court, a sum of 60 billion euros was withdrawn from the Climate and Transformation Fund at the end of 2023. As a result, the Fund's economic plan had to be revised. Following negotiations on 13.12.2023, the early end of the environmental bonus was already decided - an expiry date has not yet been announced.
On 16.12.2023, a press release from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection announced the end of electric car funding at the end of 17.12.2023. Applications for the environmental bonus could be submitted until 0:00 on the same day for already registered e-vehicles.
Many electric car buyers who were waiting for their ordered vehicle were now faced with the problem of raising 4,500€ more to absorb the lost environmental bonus.
On 18.12.2023, the first car manufacturers announced that they were contributing the sum of funding for private customers for orders of new vehicles up to and including 31.12.2023. Some manufacturers have already extended this until the end of the first quarter of 2024.
How high is the electric car subsidy in 2024?
In 2024, there will be no more funding for the purchase of electric cars. It remains to be seen whether manufacturers or retailers will create their own bonus or regulate the purchase prices for e-cars after the funding amount has disappeared.
How do I apply for funding?
An application was previously possible online on the website of the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) for vehicles that had already been registered. BAFA is now aware of this that the environmental bonus has already expired. It is therefore no longer possible to submit a funding application.
How can e-car drivers save money instead?
- With the e-license plate, you can save money, because e-cars can receive an e-license plate. This also applies to plug-in hybrids with electric Ranges of at least 40 kilometers or CO₂ emissions of less than 50 g/km. In many cities, parking in public parking spaces is free of charge for vehicles with an e-license plate.
- In addition, electric vehicles will save money by exempting electric vehicles by 2030.
- E-car drivers are also entitled to GHG premium.
- Financial savings can also be achieved through reduced wear parts compared to combustion cars and thus reduced maintenance costs.
Will electric mobility suffer as a result of the end of the environmental bonus?
It remains to be seen whether sales of electric cars will plummet and thus electric mobility experience a setback. Experts disagree, but there is increasing evidence that primarily vehicle manufacturers have benefited from the environmental bonus and have calculated sales prices accordingly.
A short-term decline is possible, but according to experts, this will not last. It is expected that manufacturers will now adjust prices in order to remain competitive and to achieve sales targets in the future.