Two models, one goal: A new study compares E-Mobility policies in California and Germany

Press release of 18 November 2024

A new publication in Energy Policy reveals why California has been able to accelerate the buildup of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure more rapidly than Germany, although political decisions in both jurisdictions share commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2045. Authored by Dr Nicholas Goedeking (IDOS) and Prof. Jonas Meckling (University of California, Berkeley), the study, “Coordinating the energy transition: Electrifying transportation in California and Germany”, identifies market structure and sectoral coordination as decisive factors influencing the respective progress in electrifying transportation.

The study underscores how California’s regulated power market offers utility companies guaranteed returns on infrastructure investments, motivating them to take the lead in public EV charging station development. This setup has fostered a strong “coalition for electrification” in California, where utilities, automakers and independent charging companies actively collaborate to expand EV infrastructure. In contrast, Germany’s liberalised market model, while successful for renewable energy expansion, relies on utilities generating revenue from electricity sales. This makes investing in EV infrastructure less financially attractive and slows progress.

“To address this challenge, Germany must consider policy adjustments that promote collaboration among key stakeholders, enabling a more coordinated rollout of electric vehicle infrastructure”, explains Nicholas Goedeking, researcher at IDOS. “Policymakers could, for example, set up inter-agency coordination mechanisms or develop new agencies tasked specifically with policy coordination”.

According to the authors, the challenges for Germany include overcoming fragmented interests among utilities and automakers, who currently view each other as responsible for leading infrastructure investments. Without stronger incentives for cooperation, both industries struggle to make meaningful strides toward the shared goal of transportation electrification. “Grid levies could be used, for instance, to help offset upfront installation costs of charging stations and thus facilitate the profitability of business models”, Goedeking notes.

“Germany’s renewable energy success proves it can build effective coalitions to drive the energy transition”, adds Jonas Meckling, University of California, Berkeley, “but translating this success into the transportation sector will require targeted policies that align incentives and actively foster cooperation among utilities, automakers and other stakeholders”.

The study’s findings provide valuable perspectives for German policymakers seeking to advance the nation’s EV transition and develop efficient, collaborative pathways for transportation electrification.

The complete study is available in the latest issue of Energy Policy.

This video, featuring illustrations by Dr Nicholas Goedeking, provides further insights into the study's findings.