German government ministers have backed a bill that would enable cities to offer electric vehicle drivers free parking and the right to use bus lanes from next year in a bid to increase demand.
Germany has set a goal of having 1m EVs on its roads by 2020, up from around 21,000 at the start of this year, among measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet climate protection targets. Transport, which accounts for about 16% of the country’s carbon-dioxide emissions, generated about 140m tonnes of CO2 in 2012 – down from 161m in 2001.
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Matthias Wissmann, president of the VDA auto industry group, said that the plan to offer free parking could “boost electric mobility”, adding such measures would have to take effect quickly and apply nationally to convince customers.
Hybrids with CO2 emissions of no more than 50 g/km or an electric range of more than 30km (20 miles) qualify for the benefits, according to the government’s statement. The changes are to take effect in spring 2015.
