Overview

• ADAC’s July study shows spontaneous charging at autobahn rest areas costs up to 62% more per kilowatt-hour than contract-based rates with the same provider.
• Many operators impose pre-authorization holds of up to €150 on ad-hoc charging sessions, with refunds sometimes taking several days to process.
• Only about 10% of high-power Autobahn chargers offer contactless payment readers despite EU rules mandating the feature since April 2024.
• Providers including Allego, Circle K, EAM and Fastned charge identical rates for ad-hoc and contract customers, illustrating uneven pricing practices across networks.
• The ADAC urges the federal government to introduce systematic market monitoring and establish a dedicated transparency office at the Bundeskartellamt to enforce clear, non-discriminatory pricing.