The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) is preparing an amendment to the German Charging Stations Ordinance (LSV), which could represent a significant shift in the charging experience.
According to the Federal Association of Independent Petrol Stations (BFT), the main changes will focus on establishing “reasonable, simple, and clearly comparable, transparent, and non-discriminatory” pricing.
In addition, operators will be required to display tariffs visibly and accessibly before the charging process begins.
For the past few years, regulations have already mandated that public costs be indicated at publicly accessible “refuelling” stations, although this practice has not always been consistent.
Section 14 of the Price Indication Ordinance specifies that merchants offering electricity through a pipeline network must indicate the price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in their offer or advertisement.
In the case of electric vehicle (EV) charging, this means that operators must ensure consumers have clear and visible access to the information.
This can be achieved through a display on the charger, a sign, or even a free mobile webpage that allows users to check the tariffs.
Currently, a wide range of apps and service providers offer different rates, resulting in a user experience that varies significantly depending on the operator, geographical location, or even the time of day.
It is worth noting that some distributors using solar energy adjust their prices according to the position of the sun, leading to cost differences depending on whether charging occurs at midday or in the afternoon.
The proposed reform aims to harmonise these prices within the framework of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).
This already sets guidelines on price transparency for the supply of electric vehicles.
The objective is to eliminate the barriers EV users face when dealing with a fragmented network in terms of pricing and accessibility.
This reform is crucial to ensure consumers can effectively compare prices between different operators.
To this end, it is proposed that all chargers offer a uniform pricing structure that includes both the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and per usage time.
The latter would apply if additional charges are imposed for occupying the point beyond the necessary time for recharging.
Furthermore, these indications must be permanent and visible to avoid any surprises for users.
In this regard, the new regulations will seek to adapt both the LSV and the Price Indication Ordinance (PAngV) to the requirements of the AFIR.
This includes not only transparency in pricing information but also the simplification of payment methods, such as the obligation to accept contactless payments via credit or debit cards.
This is already required under current regulations and is expected to be extended with this reform.
Context of this measure
Germany is characterised by its growing expansion of EV charging infrastructure, where both private and public operators play a key role.
So much so that, according to the BFT, as stated to Mobility Portal Europe: “Regarding the installation of charging stations, we have observed that Germany has more of a supply-driven market than a demand-driven one.“
The lack of uniform pricing regulation has led to a fragmented experience for consumers.
This diversity in costs is evident when comparing the offerings of different operators.
For example, EnBW offers fixed rates for its customers but also allows for variations at third-party operated stations, with prices ranging from 59 to 89 cents per kWh.
Fastned has a standard rate of 0.69 cents per kWh, although users subscribed to its Gold membership programme receive a 30% discount.
Shell Recharge, on the other hand, offers prices starting at 0.57 euros per kWh at many of its charging stations, with the option of obtaining a further 25% discount through a monthly fee of 4.99 euros.
Aldi Süd, one of the retail giants, offers one of the most competitive rates on the market, with 0.39 euros kWh for ad hoc charging.
Lidl, meanwhile, allows its customers to charge at even lower prices if they use the Lidl Plus app, with rates starting at 0.29 euros per kWh for alternating current (AC) charging and 0.48 euros per kWh for direct current (DC) charging.
In this context, the LSV reform aims to correct this imbalance and facilitate a smoother adoption of EVs.
Ultimately, this measure seeks to ensure that the charging infrastructure is accessible, fair, and efficient for users, as well as for operators, as it will promote a more equitable competitive environment among the various “refuelling” service providers.
