EU clears German scheme for e-buses and charging infrastructure
The EU Commission has approved funding of 70 million euros for Germany to invest in electric and plug-in hybrid buses as well as charging infrastructure until 2021. Proposed measures had been found to be in line with EU state aid rules.
The programme set up to run until the end of 2021 is to help public transport operators by covering the additional costs for electric and hybrid buses and installing the necessary charging infrastructure in German cities.
The scheme had been set up by the German state and the 70 million euro budget has been approved by the EU as it finds it to be in line with the rules for EU state aid and climate policies.
Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “This scheme is (…) in line with the EU environmental goals, it will give public transport operators an incentive to invest in low or zero emissions vehicles with the clear objective of reducing CO2 emissions and improving air quality.”
The money is expected to increase the number of low emission buses in Germany and thereby reduce CO2 and air pollutant emissions in cities. Public transport operators must ensure that their electric and plug-in hybrid buses are operated with electricity from renewable sources.
The Commission concluded that the contribution to EU environmental goals of the scheme outweighs any potential distortion of competition brought about by the public financing.
0 Comments