Germany Unveils €500M EV Charging Plan for Apartment Buildings

The German federal government has launched a funding program to support the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in multi-unit residential buildings, allocating a total of €500 million to the initiative.

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“Especially in Germany, a large proportion of people live in multi-unit residential buildings – yet the associated parking spaces have so far been insufficiently equipped with charging infrastructure,” said Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) on Wednesday. “We are now changing that with our funding program worth €500 million.”

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According to the announcement, subsidies will amount to €1,300 per parking space without a wallbox, €1,500 per space with a wallbox, and €2,000 per charging point capable of bidirectional charging. A key requirement for eligibility is that at least 20 percent of the available parking spaces in a multi-unit residential building must be electrified, with a minimum of six spaces included.

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The Federal Ministry of Transport estimates that Germany has around 21 million apartments in multi-unit buildings, with nearly nine million associated parking spaces, many of which currently lack sufficient charging infrastructure.

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The funding call was published on Wednesday, and applications can be submitted starting April 15. According to the ministry, applications from homeowners’ associations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and private landlords will be processed immediately. Larger housing companies and real estate firms with extensive property portfolios will be required to participate in a competitive selection process.

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The Association of Property Managers Germany, which primarily represents the interests of homeowners’ associations, welcomed the funding initiative. “For homeowners’ associations, one innovation is particularly crucial: funding applications can already be submitted before the association has passed the required resolution for the expansion,” the association explained. “The resolution can be submitted within six months after a positive initial approval.”

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