Almost everyone has probably seen a car with an E license plate. But which cars get such a license plate and what advantages do they bring? TECHBOOK explains below and reveals what the special identifier is all about.
So-called E-plates have been issued since the end of 2015. The reason for this is the Electromobility Act (EmoG), which was also passed in 2015 and applies to certain vehicles. Basically, an E license plate doesn’t look much different from a classic license plate, except that there is an “E” at the end of the license plate on the right. TECHBOOK explains to you which vehicles this license plate is intended for, what advantages it offers, what requirements car owners must meet and what privileges they can enjoy with an E-mark.
Electromobility Act (EmoG) simply explained
The topic of electromobility has been on everyone’s lips for years. When the Electromobility Act came into force in June 2015, the use of electrically powered vehicles was intended to be promoted.
In order to be able to clarify holistically which vehicles or cars can be considered electric cars, the EmoG was passed. Accordingly, vehicles must have certain characteristics in order to be able to apply for an E-license plate. According to §2 EmoG these are…
- … battery electric vehicles whose energy converters are electrical machines and the storage can be charged from the outside (battery car).
- … hybrid electric vehicles in which there are at least two different energy converters, one of which is electrically operated and one converter that can be charged from the outside (plug-in hybrid).
- … fuel cell vehicle whose energy converter consists exclusively of the fuel cells and at least one electric drive machine (fuel cell car).
However, these vehicles must also have other properties. In addition to the electric drive and the ability to charge the car from outside, they must fulfill the following things in order to have an E-mark:
- a purely electric range of 40 km or more
- or CO2 emissions of 50 g/km or less
Also interesting: This is what you need to know when buying an electric car
Advantages of an E license plate
So anyone who has an electric, hybrid electric or fuel cell car can benefit from a few things thanks to the E license plate. These are discussed in more detail in Section 3 of the EmoG.
Among other things, electrically powered cars are allowed to park in certain areas where combustion vehicles are not allowed. Electric cars are also allowed to use special lanes and bus lanes. There are also exceptions to access restrictions or transit bans. You can also save a lot on parking fees or, in some regions, they can be eliminated entirely. Free charging stations are also available.
Since plug-in hybrids are partially electrically powered vehicles, they must have an electric range of 40 kilometers or CO2 emissions of less than 50 grams per kilometer in order to enjoy the advantages.
Also interesting for those who might want to buy an electric car: If you register or register an electric car by 2025, you will not have to pay vehicle tax until December 31, 2030.
As tasty as the advantages are, there are also some points of EmoG that are rather disadvantageous in some ways.
These problems could arise
As already mentioned, there are some advantages that an E license plate brings to a car. However, the explanations in EmoG are a bit vague. In theory the regulations should actually work, but in practice this could be problematic.
It is up to them to decide how municipalities deal with electric cars. For example, municipality A can waive parking fees for electrically powered cars, while municipality B can charge fees for this, which are usually lower than for combustion cars. The municipalities themselves determine how they deal with electric cars and to what extent the advantages are applied. It is still unclear whether there will be a nationwide regulation.
Also interesting: This is how the battery in electric cars lasts longer
What conditions do you have to meet to get an E license plate?
If the above requirements are met, you have to register the car as normal. As already mentioned, the drive and charging option are initially important. In short: The vehicle must first and foremost meet the EmoG criteria.
At the registration authority you will then need the registration papers for the vehicle, your identity card, proof of a valid general inspection and proof of insurance cover (eVB number).
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Do I have to attach an E license plate?
If you have an electrically powered car, you are probably wondering whether you have to attach an E license plate. The answer here is “no”. An E license plate is not mandatory. However, if you want to benefit from the advantages, you should still apply for such a license plate. If you decide against it, you will get a normal license plate without an “E”.
You should also know that an E license plate does not only apply to classic cars. Motorhomes, buses, quads, motorcycles, etc. that meet certain requirements can be equipped with an E license plate.
The Mobility Act passed in June 2015 is valid until December 31, 2026.