Introduction

Governments around the world are actively seeking new ways to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles and provide the charging infrastructure needed to achieve their goals for a green future. This includes the EU, which has set a binding target to become carbon neutral by 2050, as part of the European Green Deal.

In addition, the EU has committed to reducing emissions by at least 55% by 2030. To bring current legislation in line with the 2030 and 2050 targets, the EU is working to revise its climate, energy, and transport-related legislation under the so-called “Fit for 55” package, which refers to the minimum of 55% emission reduction target which the EU has set for 2030.

Similar ambitions can be seen in the UK, where the government has developed a “Road to Zero” strategy in 2018 that aims to make transport in the four nations carbon-neutral by 2040. From 2030, no new gasoline or diesel cars and vans will be allowed to be sold in the UK.

On February 13, 2023, the European Parliament formally approved the ban of petrol or diesel car sales in the European Union from 2035 forward, significantly speeding up the switch to electric mobility and combating the climate crisis. The law will require all car manufacturers to achieve a 100% cut in CO2 emissions, making it impossible to sell internal combustion engine vehicles. Moreover, the new law also requires automotive OEMs to cut CO2 emissions by 55% for all cars sold, raising the standard from the previous target of 37.5%. For vans sold after 2035, there will be a 50% cut in CO2 emissions.

Government incentives for residential charging in Europe and the UK

In Austria, the government offers incentives for the installation of residential charging stations if 100% of the electricity used to charge EVs, comes from renewable sources (€1,800 for an OCPP-compliant charger for a multi-unit facility, €900 for an OCPP-compliant charger for residents of multi-unit buildings for a single-unit facility, and €600 for a household charger for single- or two-family homes).

In 2023, Belgium offers a 30% income tax deduction for the cost of buying an EV charger for private use (maximum €1,500; must be OCPP-compliant, provide charging time and capacity data, the electricity must be supplied from an energy utility which undertakes actions to supply energy from renewable sources).

Finland offers a refund of 35% (up to €90,000) of the total cost of the charging infrastructure for housing organisations offering EV charging for private use.

Until the end of 2023, the French programme ADVENIR, the French EV Infrastructure Charging Programme, will offer a tax credit of €960 for purchasing and installation of a charging station, and a grant to cover 50% of the cost (maximum €1,160) for collective charging stations to multiple owners in condominiums.

Germany currently doesn’t have any incentives for residential charging.

The same in Greece (a grant of €500) and Ireland (a grand of €600).

Italy offers a refund of up to €2,000 for purchasing and installing a charging station (up to 220 kW) for all residential areas (individual or shared), but the installation must be a part of the energy efficiency renovation that will increase building’s energy efficiency for at least 2 classes.

Grants are also offered in Spain, to cover 70% of costs for buying and installing chargers for residents of municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants and 80% for residents in municipalities with less than 5,000 inhabitants.

In Sweden, you can also get a grant to cover 50% (maximum SEK 15,000/charging point) of the purchasing and installation costs for private installations.

Similarly, the government in Poland covers up to 25% of the cost of a charging station with power of at least 22kW.

The UK government offers its citizens a grant that covers up to 75 percent (maximum £350, including VAT) of the cost of purchasing and installing  an EV charger, making it easier to access charging stations from a financial perspective. However, subsidies for residential use are increasingly becoming a choice for connectable charging stations, as they allow for load management within buildings/locations and thus a fair distribution of energy across many cars,  contributing to reduced investment in increasing the infrastructure capacity.

About Etrel EV charging portfolio for residential charging

Etrel INCH AC charging stations are OCPP-compliant and come with an LCD screen which comes in handy for multiple users of one charging station (user identification via PIN code or RFID, app or SMS). Locally produced energy from renewable sources such as Photovoltaics can be used for faster and more economical charging, resulting in more convenient, carefree, and clean home charging.

Last but not least, Etrel INCH chargers enable load scheduling (time shifting, peak shaving), which is mandatory for all charging stations installed in the UK, allowing charging time to be shifted according to driver or utility needs, supporting flexibility/demand.