German Federal Network Agency to be able to throttle e-car power from 2024 onwards

Due to the rapid growth in the number of electric car registrations and purchases of heat pumps, the German Federal Network Agency fears that the power grid will be temporarily overloaded. For this reason, the authority has now announced that it will throttle the charging power via Wallbox and Co. in the event of an emergency.

Energy transition becomes a burden on the power grid

In the face of skyrocketing fuel prices and ecological thinking, more and more people in Germany are currently opting for an electric car when buying a car. But while automakers are happy about rising sales figures, others fear the security of the nationwide power supply. Regional grids, however, are not burdened by cars with electric motors. There are also other factors associated with the energy transition. In particular, the conversion of private heating systems from gas or oil heating to heat pumps is doing the rest. After all, these are also powered by electricity.

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Nevertheless, in order to be able to guarantee the reliability of regional electricity grids, the Federal Network Agency is to be given new powers from 2024. Thus, according to a report of the FAS, the authority will in future be given the opportunity to “intervene in a controlling manner in order to be able to maintain secure grid operations. Klaus Mueller, President of the Federal Network Agency shows himself very concerned in the report, but reassures owners of a Wallbox in the same breath. The head of the agency emphasizes that a “minimum supply will be guaranteed at all times”. So e-car drivers need not fear a complete cut-off from the power grid.

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Federal Network Agency gives guarantee of 50 km

The planned throttling may well deter some potential e-car buyers. Especially if it is a commuter. After all, the regulation is to provide that one should be able to throttle the power supply in such a way that the vehicle should be supplied with so much energy within three hours of charging that a range of 50 km is still possible. If you have a long drive ahead of you and don’t have enough time to charge, you could reach your limits. For heat pumps, on the other hand, the throttling should be less noticeable. Thus, “an almost trouble-free continued operation” should probably be possible for a large part of the common devices.

Criticism comes from the automotive industry

Automobile manufacturers are naturally anything but pleased about the planned new powers for the Federal Network Agency. After all, electric cars will lose a lot of convenience as a result, according to Hildegard Müller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry. In her view, this is likely to make electric cars less attractive to many potential buyers.