Commission approves public support scheme for electric buses and charging infrastructure in Germany

Background and further information:

The scheme set up by Germany with a budget of €70 million aims to support public transport operators until the end of 2021, covering the additional costs for:

+ the acquisition of electric and plug-in-hybrid buses rather than conventional diesel buses;
+ the construction of the related electric charging infrastructurerequired for the operation of these buses.

The Commission concluded that the contribution to EU environmental goals of the scheme outweighs any potential distortion of competition brought about by the public financing and has approved it under the EU State aid rules.

The European Commission concluded on 26 February 2018 that plans to support the purchase of electric buses and related recharging infrastructure by public transport operators in Germany is in line with EU state aid rules.

European Commission: DG Competition: Case SA.48190 http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/case_details.cfm?proc_code=3_SA_48190

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