Overview
- The BAFA/Förderzentrale online portal opened on Tuesday, May 19, and the Federal Environment Ministry reported almost 17,000 applications within the first 24 hours.
- The scheme funds private purchases of new battery electric cars, certain plug‑in hybrids and range‑extender models with payments that range from €1,500 to €6,000 based on vehicle type, household taxable income and child allowances.
- Income rules set a general cutoff at €80,000 taxable household income, rising by €5,000 per child (up to two children) to a €90,000 cap, and add social bonuses of €1,000 for incomes under €60,000 and a further €1,000 for incomes under €45,000.
- Applicants must first register the vehicle in their name, create a BundID with elevated trust level or use an ELSTER certificate, upload two recent tax assessments plus vehicle and contract documents, and hold the car for at least 36 months or face repayment.
- The programme is financed from the Climate and Transformation Fund with €3 billion set to cover roughly 800,000 vehicles through 2029, but critics warn that upfront costs, digital ID and document demands and the exclusion of used EVs may block lower‑income buyers and strain administration as applications are processed.