Great obstacle: Rate structure in public load stations for electric cars

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The tariff structure at the public load points has been a source of annoyance for some time: the low electricity prices are often linked to a contract with a monthly basic rate and to the use of the respective operator’s sites. This makes the big players even bigger because they increase their own capacity use. As a result, the risk of oligopoly formation increases, that is, the market domain of some companies. An extreme differential in electricity prices also repels the benevolents who really want to buy an electric car. Legislators in Brussels and Berlin are not taking measures. Politicians largely leave the market to their own devices.

The best known example is Energie Baden-Würtvelg AG, or ENBW for abbreviated. ENBW manages more than 1000 locations in Germany. A particular approach is to load parks with rapid DC load points. The hour of kilowatt costs 39 cents, but only in the “LC” with a monthly rate of 17.99 euros. With other operators, Enbw charges up to 89 cents per kilowatt hour, even for quiet charges with alternating current. Anyone who will reserve the L racient will logically attempt exclusively in the ENBW locations.

Roaming investment

This principle is exemplary and means nothing less than the reversal of Roaming’s idea. Roaming originally meant that with a contract, it was possible to connect electricity to a large number of locations of any operator throughout Europe. This works almost everywhere. However, if customers are forced to collect in a specific operator instead of a third -party supplier due to high costs, they currently reach their maximum point at 1.21 euros per kWh, Roaming is still dysfunctional.

Fear of scaring investors

The legislator could actually take action at this time. Heise Auto asked the European Competition Commission(General Directorate for Competition or DG comp). After the elections in the summer of 2024, this European Ministry was reorganized. The response of DG’s composition is generic. He says he is monitoring “possible anti -competitive practices” and “abusive behavior in all economic sectors.” The national and European authorities “would closely cooperate” and “they would remain informed.”

Other Brussels circles also report that the problem has been recognized and in no way is exclusive to Germany. However, the fear of scaring the companies that invest in the development of the load infrastructure is greater than that of the owners of electric cars. After all, the European Union has created a framework through affirmation(Alternative fuel infrastructure regulation) that an improvement could indirectly achieve. Keywords: mandatory payment terminals and price transparency. For example, payment terminals must be installed in recently built DC locations to allow direct payment with a credit or smartphone card. In the medium term, the existing stock must be modified in many places.

Mandatory payment terminals

Payment terminals could lead to the fall in the prices of the option that is currently at a disadvantage: ad hoc payment, that is, payment without contract and, therefore, without a basic monthly rate. Aldi Süd is already doing this. The discount is intelligent enough not to rent their own parking spaces to external operators for the administration. On the other hand, Aldi Süd is the operator itself, and the Electricity Time of Kilowatt is just one more article in the invoice along with milk and fruit. Intermediaries are eliminated, and the group passes part of this gain for customers. On the CA side, 29 cents must be overcome per kWh, with a load capacity of up to 50 kW, it is 44 and more than 50 kW 47 cents per kWh.

Starting intermediate winners

This system was implemented in Aldi Süd by the Wallbe company. Wallbe manufacturers, in turn, have founded Ev-Pay. EV-PAY is about to have its new direct payment system certified by PTB in Braunschweig as it complies with the calibration law. Several industry actors throughout Europe are in dialogue with EV-PAY. The advantage of direct billing is obvious for many operators: DIY stores and supermarkets have often realized that they can attract customers from the filling stations and earn additional money, provided that they administer the load infrastructure and They offer a direct payment without registration and intermediaries.

The next step for better: price boards such as service stations could provide price transparency. Such projects have rarely implemented to date. You can find a practical example on the A2 Highway at the slow outlet at the “Rausch Schokolade” site. Tesla has established an exhibition board at the entrance of the cargo park. However, for the ENBW columns installed in the same place, the conjectures begin again.

Price transparency thanks to LadEfuchs

The application of the LDEfuchs community is one of the solutions. There is no other low and simple application that provides price transparency in each location. The user selects the local operator and receives an overview of the prices of the various suppliers. In this way, end users also quickly notice if they have an expensive contract. LADEFUCHS is practically not less than the government initiated Smart tank Application, which has been transferred to electricity and creates prices transparency for Diesel fuel and premium gasoline. However, Malik Aziz de Ladefuchs clarifies that the application was voluntarily created by the Electric Automobile drivers community: “We finance the operation through donations and the marketing store,” says Aziz.

For private customers, low prices and transparency are more important than for those with the company’s car, which simply receive a load card. Fleet managers in the background are increasingly concerned about not being scammed. The State greatly leaves the load infrastructure market to its devices. At least regulations such as affirming can contribute to progress. Hullabaloo remembers the first days of mobile telephony, and one thing is safe: it will not stay as it is.

(Mack)