Germany looks to keep the peace by halting or at least softening incoming tariffs on Chinese EVs
Just days after the EU Commission determined EVs imported from China have an unfair advantage due to government subsidies and responding with higher tariffs, Germany, one of the region’s largest automotive markets, has spoken against the decision, stating the imposed tariffs could hurt the success of local automakers selling vehicles in China.
It has been a long saga leading up to this week’s decision by the EU Commission that Chinese EVs have an unfair advantage in European markets following a probe that began last fall. While the probe was taking place behind closed doors, the EU was already threatening tariffs on Chinese imports.
Meanwhile, the US didn’t need a probe (or many Chinese EV imports, for that matter) to impose its own steep tariffs. In retaliation, China threatened tariffs of up to 25% on European-built models like those from Germany, for example, imploring the EU to play fair and not follow the US’ decision.
Unfortunately for China, the EU Commission confirmed the results of its probe, hailing EV imports as unfair due to local subsidies. As a result, it announced plans to slap massive tariffs of up to 48% on those incoming models that are just starting to hit their stride in new markets overseas.
Days later, Germany spoke out against the EU’s decision on tariffs, expressing hope there is still time to reach an agreement to avoid them. Or, at the very least, soften those percentages.
Germany argues Chinese tariffs hurt EU automakers too
Following the EU Commission’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs next month, the government of Germany is stepping up to try to mediate tensions and, ideally, stop the upcharges altogether.
Per Automotive News Europe, a spokesperson with ties to Berlin officials who requested anonymity said the group remains optimistic the EU can resolve the issue through direct talks with China. With allies overseas, Germany believes there’s still room (and time) to reverse or soften the tariffs, but both sides must compromise.
Germany’s strongest argument is that retaliatory tariffs against China may also hurt local OEMs, including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz Group, and BMW – all of which rely heavily on sales in Asia, particularly China.
Mercedes-Benz is an especially popular automaker in China, and its G- and S-Class vehicles, in particular, have done well with those consumers. As the German automaker goes electric, Mercedes has seen EV growing sales in China and intends to bring its new all-electric G-Class overseas this year. Germany argues the EU’s tariffs could throw a wrench in those plans as its local OEMs could face the eye-for-eye wrath from the Chinese government.
Germany’s Economy Minister Robert Habeck said there’s still time to stop this looming tariff escalation and will travel to China next week to discuss the issue with government officials.
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
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Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
Read more: Texas to get 1 GW AI-powered virtual power plant, enough to power 200,000 homes
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
Read: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens
To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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