Wie entwickelt sich die Elektromobilität in Österreich?

In this podcast, we take a look at the state of electromobility in Austria. Philipp Wieser, head of OLÉ – Austria's central hub for electromobility at AustriaTech – explains why the country excels in expanding its charging infrastructure, what legal hurdles exist, and what the end of subsidies for electric cars in 2024 means. The situation in Austria is similar to that in Germany: The euphoria of recent years subsided in 2024. The market is stagnating, and many previous drivers – such as premiums or tax advantages – have been reduced or eliminated. Wieser remains optimistic nonetheless: "I'm not frustrated. That was to be expected." Growth is also slowing in other countries – but this is seen more as a transition than a regression. In Belgium and Denmark, the numbers rose sharply once a critical mass was reached. For Austria, this means that 2025 will likely be a year of setting the course, not of growth. Because subsidies for vehicle purchases have expired – on the contrary: electric car drivers now have to pay motor-related insurance tax again. Will this slow down the market? And what about electric commercial vehicles? One bright spot: the charging infrastructure. "The charging network is progressing very well," emphasizes Wieser. Austria is heading towards 30,000 charging points, but more important are the charging capacity per vehicle and a smart distribution. Particularly encouraging: high-power charging (HPC) points make up only 10% of the charging points, but already deliver around 50% of the charging capacity. Expansion must be diverse and demand-oriented. Not everyone needs a fast charger – what's crucial is the right infrastructure in the right place. The LADIN funding project, for example, specifically closed gaps in fast-charging points, thereby reducing the average distance to the nearest charging option by two kilometers. Long-term planning is also underway: The STELE platform is proactively linking charging infrastructure and electricity grid planning – for example, for heavy goods vehicles. “Truck charging stations with eight charging points of at least 350 kW continuous power” place significant demands on the grid. An interactive map shows planned and existing locations – an important step in system planning. Another topic: charging along highways. In Germany, this is causing controversy; in Austria, it falls under the purview of ASFINAG – which, however, is hampered by legal hurdles. Protected zones established by previous concession holders prevent the construction of charging points in some locations. These complex procedures are currently keeping many legal experts busy. And then there's the perennial problem of charging tariffs. While in Germany, people are already talking about a “broken charging market,” the situation in Austria is still more relaxed. Nevertheless, there is also criticism here of opaque pricing and map chaos. The new charging point data regulation offers hope. All relevant data – prices, availability, charging capacity – will be transparently available in the future via the modernized charging point directory of e-Control. Wieser is convinced: “This alone will create significantly better transparency.” This could revitalize the discussion about fair tariffs. Austria remains on course regarding electromobility – with realism and a spirit of innovation. 2025 is intended to be the year for system maintenance and strategic planning. With projects like STELE and the LADIN funding program, Wieser aims to lay the foundation for a new ramp-up – for the continued dynamic development of e-mobility in the country.