Fuel pumps with power plugs, or a car with round headlights and a cable sticking out of it: the German traffic sign jungle is getting denser due to electric mobility. The bottom line is though, if you don’t drive an electric vehicle, then parking here will cost you dearly. Fleet managers should make sure their company car drivers are in the know so that they can avoid annoyance on their journeys.

One million publicly accessible charging points by 2030, that is what was promised in the charging infrastructure master plan published by the German Federal Transport Ministry in November 2019. An ambitious goal perhaps, considering that the current figure in Germany in the first quarter of 2021 was 22,181. But a definite upward trend is noticeable.

By the way: in its netiquette for EV drivers (Netiquette für E-Mobilisten), ADAC makes it clear that it is unfair on other electric vehicle drivers to use the parking space when not charging a vehicle. It is also good manners to depart speedily when the battery is fully charged and to only use the parking space if this is necessary. Company car drivers should know this etiquette, as not only could frequent wrongdoing prove expensive ultimately, it could also quickly escalate into an image problem for the company.

If recharging is a prerequisite, then this automatically excludes fuel-cell vehicles, even if they likewise have an E at the end of their number plate. Combustion-engine vehicles in turn have already lost the battle when it comes to the special parking spaces and face the threat of substantial fines. Added to this are potential tow-away charges, especially if all other parking spaces for electric vehicles are occupied. Cities like Hamburg and Dortmund are already taking a tough stance on this, with petrol and diesel vehicles being towed away regardless.

Another advantage for electric vehicle drivers, which incidentally also arises from the Electric Mobility Act (EmoG), is the option offered by some cities, local authorities and districts to use “normal” parking spaces free of charge or at least at reduced rates. The EV registration plate is a prerequisite in all cases however.

Looking abroad

The topic of parking spaces for electric vehicles is also gaining momentum with our neighbours. The Netherlands, in particular, is playing a pioneering role in this regard. Parking privileges for electric vehicles have already existed in Amsterdam for some time, for example, with the roads leading there dotted with thousands of charging stations – and even tens of thousands throughout the entire country. Parking offences are generally penalised with hefty fines of more than 60 euros.

In France, German drivers can expect a similar density of charging stations as at home; Austria is still lagging behind a little, but EV drivers are permitted to park free of charge in general in cities like Graz, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt. In the southern countries in particular, however, like Italy and Spain, there is a lot of catching up to do. All countries have one thing in common though: combustion-engine vehicles in parking spaces for electric vehicles face the threat of the tow-rope – and various combinations of signs indicate many other (special) rules.

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