Companies to receive new subsidies for installing charging points

The goal is that by 2030, 49% of registered cars for passenger transport will run on electricity. In order to reach this goal, the network of charging points has to be extended.

Minister for Energy Claude Turmes stated that charging an electric car is to be "easy and accessible practically everywhere". Besides the 800 planned 'Chargy' points, 757 of which are currently operational, and subsidies for privately owned charging points, companies are also meant to play a major role in the national network of charging points. New state aids were presented on Thursday, as a way to encourage investment.

The draft bill provides for two schemes:

The first scheme is aimed at all companies regardless of their size and will be based on a call for tenders. Successful projects will be able to obtain a subsidy of up to 50% of the investment if the planned charging stations will be accessible to the public 24/7. If the charging station will only be accessible five days a week for ten hours a day, companies will receive 40%.

The second scheme is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises. SMEs will be able to obtain a subsidy of up to 50% of the costs of installing a charging point, with a ceiling of €40,000, and up to 60% of the costs of connection to the electricity network, with a ceiling of €60,000.

The Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts welcomes the new schemes, which companies should be able to apply for in a few months' time. Director Tom Wirion stated that the Chamber was involved in the preparation of the draft bill and that it is a "win-win" for everyone.

The subsidies programme for companies has a budget of €40 million. According to Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot, the government has negotiated "for over a year" with the European Commission to obtain authorisation for these programmes. Fayot also pointed out that Luxembourg is one of the first EU countries to introduce subsidies of this kind. They are important to implement both the digital and ecological transition, the Minister stressed.

The Grand Duchy plans to reduce its CO2 emissions by 55% until 2030. Electromobility is to play a key role in this plan. The transport sector currently accounts for two-thirds of Luxembourg's greenhouse gas emissions.

The original report in Luxembourgish: