BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - What exactly will the new purchase premium for electric cars look like? Contrary to previous announcements, Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) will not provide information on this matter this Friday after all. The date will be postponed "to allow for final internal coordination within the federal government," the Environment Ministry announced.

Premium to Apply Retroactively from the Beginning of the Year

The "Bild" newspaper has already reported on some details of the upcoming subsidy. According to these reports, the premium is to apply retroactively for e-cars newly registered since the turn of the year. Depending on income, family status, and other criteria, subsidies between €1,500 and €6,000 are possible.

"The funds are estimated to be sufficient for around 800,000 vehicles over the next three to four years," Schneider told the newspaper. Last year, the Union and SPD agreed on new multi-billion euro purchase incentives, which are particularly intended to benefit households with low and medium incomes. Families with children are to receive higher amounts. The established income limit is set at €80,000 in taxable annual household income.

Portal for Applications to Come Later

It could still be several months before car buyers can actually receive the new premium. According to "Bild," a dedicated online portal must first be activated. Applications can likely be submitted starting in May.

However, some details remain open, for example, to what extent so-called plug-in hybrids will be subsidized. These are vehicles that can run both on battery power and on fuel.

About One in Five New Registrations Is an Electric Car

The share of purely electric cars among all new registrations was just over 19 percent last year. These vehicles are being subsidized to make transportation more climate-friendly.

There has already been a purchase premium for electric passenger cars in the past. The previous "traffic light" coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP abruptly ended it at the end of 2023 to plug budget gaps./hrz/DP/stk