Electromobility in Rhineland-Palatinate: Despite More Charging Stations, Much Still Needs to Be Done

The number of registered electric cars in Rhineland-Palatinate has almost tenfold increased over the past five years—and the expansion of charging stations has doubled. This emerges from a response by the Ministry of Transport in Mainz to an inquiry from the Green parliamentary group in the state parliament. It also mentions figures related to the still comparatively few electric cars in the state government. 

While only just under 2,500 electric cars were registered in Rhineland-Palatinate in 2019, according to the ministry, there were already more than 23,500 by 2023. During the same period, the number of charging stations increased by 245 to 490. Among these, there were exactly 165 fast-charging stations in 2023 compared to just 51 in 2019. 

"The development in the expansion of charging stations is heading in the right direction, but the expansion of charging infrastructure in Germany must be accelerated significantly," said the Green parliamentary group's transport policy spokesperson, Jutta Blatzheim-Roegler, to the German Press Agency. The federal government must also become more actively involved in this effort. 

E-buses are operating in a dozen districts and independent cities

In 5 of the 24 districts as well as 7 of the 12 independent cities, buses with electronic drive are in use or about to be deployed.

"Buses and trains with clean drive systems are not only a win for the climate, but also ensure lower operating costs in the long run," said Lea Heidbreder, the climate policy spokesperson for the Green Party.

The first e-railway line is set to pass through the Ahr Valley

And the train? The Ahr Valley line is already being electrified, and according to railway information, trains are expected to run on the entire Ahr Valley line again by the end of 2025. According to the ministry, the electrification works on the Eifel line (Trier-Cologne) are expected to begin in autumn 2024. The electrification of the Moselwein railway (Bullay – Traben-Trarbach) is planned. The planning for the electrification of the "Pfalznetz" using so-called overhead line island systems for future operation with battery-electric trains is "well advanced".