Nationwide fast-charging network on the horizon in Germany

Nationwide fast-charging network on the horizon in Germany

German Federal Transport Ministry announces tenders for the development of a nationwide high power charging network

On 17 August 2021, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) announced the development of a nationwide fast charging network ("Deutschlandnetz"). Private operators are to construct and operate a total of around 1,000 fast-charging stations, each with several charging points and a charging capacity of at least 300 kW. The aim is to create a nationwide and demand-oriented fast-charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Germany. The federal government is providing budget funds totalling around 2 billion euros for the tender.

Two separate tenders are planned for different sites:

  • 900 stations in 23 regional lots, in which bidders submit suitable sites within predefined search areas.
  • 200 stations in nationwide motorway lots on unmanaged rest areas.

The BMVI has announced the following parameters  for the tendering of the 23 regional lots, which is to start on 15 September 2021:

  • Each bidder can win a maximum of 3 lots;
  • Successful bidders will be subject to a flexible price cap for the charging electricity they charge to customers. The starting value has been set at 44 cents per kWh (gross) and is intended to vary with changes in electricity procurement costs.
  • Successful bidders repatriate part of the revenue from the operation of the fast charging stations to the federal government via a "compensation component". The initial value of the compensation component is around 18 cents per kWh;
  • The award is made up of a multi-stage procedure that includes the submission of an initial bid, a subsequent negotiation phase and final bid submission.
  • The award criteria include cost, concept and customer friendliness.

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