Jeroen van Tilburg, the head of the charging station operator Ionity, has urged policymakers to create greater reliability regarding electric mobility. Speaking to “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” van Tilburg stated that the messages from German politics are contradictory. He noted, “On one hand, there is a demand that we install more charging points. On the other hand, the expansion is hampered by very complex regulations”.
His company is ready to build several thousand additional charging points across Germany in the coming years. However, managing this involves dealing with over 800 regional distribution network operators, each imposing differing requirements. According to the manager, this process “must become simpler”.
While the current debate suggests that electric mobility is gaining momentum, van Tilburg added that progress would accelerate if the political landscape became predictable. He pointed out that the ongoing discussion about CO2 reduction targets and carbon dioxide pricing is causing significant uncertainty for drivers, industry stakeholders, and investors alike.
In terms of actual catalysts for e-mobility, van Tilburg suggested that stronger tax incentives for company cars and corporate vehicle fleets would be highly beneficial. He explained that such incentives would make electric vehicles significantly more attractive to fleet managers who need to calculate costs precisely, compared to combustion engine vehicles. Furthermore, these vehicles would eventually enter the used car market after their leases expire-typically after three or four years-thereby expanding the customer base due to their favorable pricing.
For context, Ionity is a joint venture in which German car manufacturers Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are also involved. It ranks among the largest providers of high-power charging stations in Europe.