Subsidies on the Edge: Tenants would have to pay for electric car charging stations

class=”sc-29f61514-0 dXbCZE”>

The federal government wants to accelerate the transition to electromobility. The transport sector must reduce its CO₂ emissions by 57 percent by 2040 and completely by 2050. This is the mandate of the voters who approved the Climate Protection Act this summer.

But so far, emissions have only fallen by 7 percent. The number of electric cars is growing, but they still make up only 3 percent of all passenger cars in Switzerland. To promote their share, the federal government wanted to finance charging stations for electric cars with up to 180 million francs between 2025 and 2030. Businesses, public parking lots and apartment buildings should benefit from this.

But the Council of States put the brakes on the plan. In the autumn session, a middle-class majority removed the planned subsidies from the CO₂ law. Charging stations are a private matter, it was said. There is now opposition to this from the National Council. And this despite the fact that the provisional environmental committee did not even meet this week.

Hardly any charging stations in apartment buildings

“The decision of the Council of States is wrong,” FDP state councilor Matthias Jauslin (61) told Tamedia newspapers. He wants to have the subsidies again laid down in law and has submitted an application for this. Because the charging infrastructure is important to promote electromobility.

Research by Touring Club Switzerland (TCS) shows that charging options are crucial when purchasing an electric car. But according to experts, there are hardly any charging stations in the apartment buildings with their 3 million apartments. In addition, tenants and condominium owners are not allowed to independently decide on the construction of a charging station.

Vice-chairman of the Tenants Association and National Councilor of the Green Party Michael Töngi (56) therefore demands that tenants be given the right to install a charging station. In the past, this demand had no chance in parliament.

SP politician wants to build a bridge

Gabriela Suter (50) strives for a compromise. The SP Land Councilor also wants to include the subsidies in the CO₂ law. However, the money may only flow to measures required for charging stations, such as more power connections. Because the tenants cannot do this independently, Suter tells the Tamedia newspapers.

The SVP is clearly against the subsidies. Their national councilor Michael Graber (42) does not think financing programs are necessary. The development is moving towards electrification, even without subsidies. The SVP is also concerned about security of supply. While nuclear power plants are being phased out, the electrification of transportation is progressing. The SVP therefore fears electricity shortages – and opposes additional federal measures to promote electrification. (rba)

Source:Blick