Overview
- Fresh Finance Ministry guidance keeps employer-provided charging tax-free, including workplace or temporarily provided home wallboxes and setups run by third‑party operators.
- The previous monthly flat rates end after 2025, with 2026 reimbursements based on documented electricity costs or a Statistisches Bundesamt household price benchmark derived from the prior year’s first half.
- A distinct stationary or mobile meter must record home charging volumes, a rule that also applies when using private photovoltaic systems, and dynamic tariffs remain permissible.
- Retailers have largely abandoned free public charging: Aldi Süd introduced per‑kWh fees in June 2022, Lidl and Kaufland followed in September 2022, and Ikea switched to paid tariffs nationwide in January 2025 with member discounts.
- Free charging persists only in limited, conditional forms at select DIY chains and dealerships with typical 60–90 minute limits, while Tesla’s no‑cost Supercharging is confined to older legacy vehicles under specific order dates.