In the first half of 2025, Germany registered 248,726 new electric vehicles – more than ever before and 35% more than in the same period of 2024, according to an analysis by the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW).
During this period, the private sector added more than 20,000 public charging points across the country, representing an 11% increase. At the same time, the rapid expansion of ultra-fast charging stations has led to a further sharp increase in charging capacity.
Despite the strong figures for electric vehicle registrations in the first six months of the year, by mid-year only 15% of publicly accessible charging points in Germany were used at the same time. For EV drivers, this means that an average of 85% of charging points were available.
For the first time, the BDEW Monitor also looked at the expansion of charging facilities for electric trucks. The findings show that progress is also very strong in this area. A total of 70 charging points are already in operation, 50 of which meet the criteria for inclusion in the EU’s targets. This means that 67% of the 13,300 km motorway network is already covered – exceeding the EU target of 15% in Germany by 4.5 times.
When choosing the right charging tariff, driving an electric vehicle is cheaper than running a car with an internal combustion engine. In addition to charging with self-generated photovoltaic electricity or at the workplace, EV charging is cheaper than refueling in four out of five charging scenarios:
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At home;
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Public normal charging with a contracted partner;
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Public fast charging with a contracted partner;
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Public normal charging with a roaming partner.
- In the fifth case – public fast charging with a roaming partner – the cost depends on the contract.
Kerstin Andreae, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of BDEW, explained:
“E-mobility is currently gaining new momentum. The strong growth in new registrations and the successful expansion of charging infrastructure for both electric cars and trucks show that the market is moving forward. It is clear that concerns about range and charging are a thing of the past. E-mobility is becoming the better alternative for more and more people.
The federal government should set an example when purchasing vehicles for its own fleet. The recently adopted innovation incentive mechanism, which allows special depreciation of new vehicles, should also be opened up to leased vehicles. Instead of costly subsidy programs, policymakers should focus on sustainable tax incentives for electric vehicles. This has given a decisive boost to e-mobility in many neighboring countries, such as Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium.”
The analysis of the BDEW is avalable here.
