“Distribution grid operators need transparent guidelines”

Pallasch is set to open the session “Political Framework in Europe and the Middle East”. His keynote—titled “Germany is Charging: Challenges and Solutions in Building a Charging Infrastructure for the Mass Market”—will address both the obstacles and opportunities on the road to nationwide coverage.

In this interview, Pallasch outlines the regulatory levers that need to be activated, the interplay between private and municipal stakeholders, and what recent findings from pilot projects mean for Germany’s future charging landscape.

ADT: Which specific regulatory or financial instruments are most urgently needed to accelerate the mass-market expansion of charging infrastructure in Germany? 

Pallasch: A nationwide and future-ready expansion of charging infrastructure requires decisive action on several levels. Most crucial is the acceleration of permitting procedures—especially for publicly accessible charging points—as well as the introduction of clear, standardized regulations for grid connections. Distribution grid operators need transparent guidelines to implement connection processes swiftly and cost-effectively. At the same time, grid expansion must be planned proactively to avoid future bottlenecks or delays in connecting new charging points.

On the financial side, significant action is still needed, particularly regarding the heavy-duty vehicle sector. Substantial investment is required to build a high-performance charging infrastructure. Therefore, special emphasis should be placed on targeted funding instruments—as explicitly outlined in the coalition agreement.

How do you assess the role of public versus private investment in the current expansion strategy? 

From Basic Charging to Intelligent Energy Distribution

E-mobility is key to a sustainable future, and as the number of electric vehicles continues to grow, so does the demand for reliable and efficient charging infrastructure. This article explores the challenges and solutions involved in optimizing charging networks—covering load and charge management, cost-saving potential, the integration of renewable energy, and forward-looking technologies such as vehicle-to-grid.

Peter Guse and Melina Danieli

Private investors—from the fuel retail, retail, or energy sectors—currently contribute the majority of investments in charging infrastructure, especially in public spaces. The installation and operation of charging points are generally the responsibility of private-sector stakeholders and require active willingness to invest—whether in public streetscapes, along major transport corridors, or in private residential areas such as multi-family buildings. For expansion to gain further momentum, charging infrastructure must also be economically viable. Customer retention, the extension of existing business models, and the development of new markets are central incentives—and powerful drivers—of expansion. At the same time, municipalities are key enablers of the success of the infrastructure rollout. While they generally do not invest themselves—and are not expected to—they play an indispensable role as facilitators: They control access to public streets and municipal land, handle permitting processes, foster local acceptance, and coordinate relevant stakeholders. Without municipal involvement, a demand-driven and accelerated rollout is simply not feasible.

Which insights from pilot projects have proven particularly valuable for scaling up the nationwide charging infrastructure? 

With around 160,000 publicly accessible charging points, we are now standing at the threshold of a mass market. The pilot project phase is over—what’s needed now is a user-centric and scalable approach to further infrastructure development. That’s why we have taken a deep dive into the needs of users. Findings from our internal study “Charging Infrastructure in the Mass Market” show: Home charging remains the most important use case—particularly in single-family homes. About 80 percent of respondents reported using this charging scenario. However, more and more EV drivers now live in urban areas and multi-family buildings, where private parking—and thus easy home charging access—is often lacking. Public charging locations such as curbside spaces or customer parking lots are therefore gaining importance. Over 40 percent of new entrants to the EV market already use these charging options—a clear signal of their growing relevance. Another key factor is user-friendliness: complex apps or non-transparent pricing discourage use. On the other hand, unified and easy payment systems—especially for spontaneous ad hoc charging—significantly boost acceptance. Ad hoc charging is used about three times more often by new market participants, with mobile app payments being the most preferred method. Variable tariffs are less favored. Grid-side requirements are also increasing noticeably as the market grows. Smart load management will be essential to avoid local grid overload—especially in urban areas with rising simultaneous charging demand. Early and coordinated involvement of grid operators in project planning is just as important as the growing deployment of decentralized storage systems. These contribute to grid stability and create additional flexibility—an aspect that will only gain further importance as the market continues to expand.

Chargetec 2025

27-28 May 2025, SZ Munich Tower