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Which cars are allowed to park at charging stations?
This is not regulated in the same way everywhere.
Photo: Max Kovalenko / Lichtgut / IMAGO
Parking at public charging stations is regulated differently from state to state.
This was the result of a query by the ADAC in the 16 state capitals.
The current signage is partly "unclear and misleading," judged the ADAC.
It is necessary to replace the "mess of signs" with nationwide uniform rules for charging and parking.
In some places, vehicles with combustion engines are allowed to park at charging stations
According to ADAC information, there are currently around 51,000 public charging points in Germany.
Parking at these charging stations for all types of electric vehicles is permitted in five of the 16 state capitals.
In the remaining cities, an E-license plate is required.
Pure battery cars, fuel cell vehicles and economical plug-in hybrids receive this.
In two cities, even combustion engines are allowed to park at some charging stations at night.
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Five cities also indicated that it is permitted to park at the charging station without charging the vehicle.
This is not allowed in the other eleven.
There are sometimes different rules for fast charging stations.
According to the ADAC, the signage does not always provide more clarity: For example, the additional sign "During the landing process" remains open, which applies when the battery is full but the car is still parked.
The exact rules for the individual cities can be found on the ADAC website.
The cities agree on at least one point: parking at the charging station does not incur any separate fees.
The number of vehicle owners in Germany for whom these rules are relevant is increasing: According to ADAC data, almost 356,000 electric vehicles were newly registered last year - more than ever before.
In total, around 517,000 electric cars and 494,000 plug-in hybrids were registered in Germany in autumn 2021.
This number is set to increase significantly by 2030: the federal government has set the goal of 15 million electric vehicles in the coalition agreement.
vki/dpa