Federal Cartel Office Highlights Lack of Competition in EV Charging Stations

The Federal Cartel Office has raised concerns about the lack of competition among electric vehicle (EV) charging station providers in many municipalities. Andreas Mundt, the head of the office, highlighted that dominant positions have been established by a few providers, leading to limited choices for consumers and the risk of higher electricity prices for charging.

This situation, according to the office's sector investigation, could have been avoided if public spaces for charging stations were not predominantly awarded to municipal utilities or individual providers. A positive example cited was the 'Germany Network,' where the federal government improved market access by tendering federal spaces at unmanaged highway rest areas.

Despite these findings, the office sees no broad need for cartel intervention, suggesting that legal adjustments are necessary instead. Mundt warns against price regulation as it could jeopardize the viability of private expansion projects and potentially hinder the development of charging infrastructure.

Measures to improve price transparency should also be handled with caution to prevent coordinated pricing behaviors among providers.