Bremen is missing out on e-charging goals: where do we compare?

Bremen is missing out on e-charging goals: where do we compare?

Electromobility is progressing sluggishly in Bremen, and the city has clearly missed its expansion targets for the charging infrastructure. The original plan was to increase the number of charging points in the north of Bremen from 94 to 500 within five years. But the mobility department rejected this requirement, so that the city could only achieve a comprehensive charging infrastructure with over 6,000 charging points after 2030. This development is particularly frustrating when you consider that only 2.9% of the 248,000 cars in Bremen are electric cars, which is below the Germany-wide average of 3.3%, according to the Weser-Kurier reported.

While around 17% of charging points nationwide are occupied at the same time, the utilization of Bremen's station infrastructure with 53 publicly accessible columns and a total of 1,155 charging points is miles behind expectations. This lethargy is exacerbated by several factors: loss of government funding, economic uncertainty, high inflation, rising energy costs and delivery problems making progress difficult.

Strategy for the future

The Bremen Senator for Construction, Mobility and Urban Development has presented a comprehensive concept for the expansion of the charging infrastructure, which is aimed at improving the conditions for users without their own parking space. As part of a “special use concept”, so-called “search areas” are defined, which are intended to promote the needs-based expansion of charging points in the city. This strategy was decided on September 17, 2024 by the Bremen city council, and the distribution process for the expansion is scheduled to start after the 2025 summer holidays, as the city's information page explains (https://bau.bremen.de/mobilitaet/elektromobilitaet-1266113).

Interestingly, around two thirds of people in Bremen have their own parking space, but the tight spatial situation in many parts of the city poses a challenge. Citizens are even asked to communicate location requests for charging infrastructure by email. Those responsible see particular potential in the food retail sector in the districts of Blumenthal, Burglesum and Vegesack.

The role of the federal government

The federal government has set itself ambitious goals: at least 15 million electric cars and one million charging points should be built in Germany by 2030. The comprehensive expansion of the charging infrastructure is crucial in order to increase the acceptance of electric cars. Over two thirds of those surveyed in a survey at the end of 2022 said that an inadequate charging infrastructure was a reason not to buy an electric car, according to the results of Statista shows.

In Germany there will be an average of around 35.2 kW charging capacity per charging point in January 2024. This is crucial because it significantly reduces waiting times for vehicle owners. Today it is clear: the development of the charging infrastructure is a challenge that affects all levels, from the city to the federal government. Only together can we succeed in putting Bremen on the right path to the future of electromobility.