Skip to main content

Siemens exits EV charging market

According to the Wall Street Journal, Siemens is to exit its electric vehicle (EV) charging points business, as demand and market development turned out weaker than expected. Despite a government plan to see one million registered electric cars on German roads by 2020, consumers haven't been keen about such vehicles. Last year for instance, only 4,157 e-cars were newly registered in Germany, bringing the total to 7,112.
September 4, 2013 Read time: 1 min
According to the Wall Street Journal, 189 Siemens is to exit its electric vehicle (EV) charging points business, as demand and market development turned out weaker than expected.

Despite a government plan to see one million registered electric cars on German roads by 2020, consumers haven't been keen about such vehicles. Last year for instance, only 4,157 e-cars were newly registered in Germany, bringing the total to 7,112.

"It's true that we're withdrawing from that business segment, because the e-mobility market has grown more slowly than originally expected," the company said in a statement. "Together with the staff council, we're currently looking for a solution as to where to employ the workers affected by the move."

The company emphasised, though, that it would continue to make so-called wall boxes for recharging e-cars privately at home. It would also continue research on inductive, that is, cable-less charging techniques.

Related Content

  • October 2, 2018
    Shock therapy: jolt for EV charging needed
    As sales of electric vehicles accelerate, the growth of charging infrastructure is in need of a big boost. Graham Anderson reports on whether Europe is up to it. Utilities, technology companies and vehicle manufacturers are battling to put in place new charging networks for electric vehicles (EVs) across Europe in response to a predicted dramatic surge in demand. Market experts believe that rapidly falling battery costs – which make up about one third of the costs of an electric car – and growing
  • May 18, 2012
    EVs stir interest but face obstacles – IBM study
    Many automobile industry executives believe that sales of traditional vehicles will peak before 2020 and are looking to electric-only vehicles (EVs) as one of the next hot products, but they will first have to address stringent consumer requirements about EV performance, recharging, and convenience, according to a new IBM survey of consumer attitudes and a recent study of auto industry executives.
  • April 29, 2016
    Germany’ plans subsidies to encourage EV use ‘an interesting move’
    Germany has announced plans to motivate German citizens to buy electric and hybrid vehicles, say news reports, with a plan that the transport ministry hopes will boost sluggish electric-vehicle sales. The plan is expected to cost US$1.35 billion (€1.2 billion), with the government and automakers sharing the cost. Car buyers will receive a US$4,530 (€4,000) discount on electric vehicles and a US$3,398 ($3,000) discount on hybrids. The proposal also includes the installation of more charging stations
  • October 10, 2018
    Pivot Power: 'We need to rethink the EV customer experience'
    Electric vehicles will increasingly become a key part of the mobility mix but charging infrastructure is currently patchy. Adam Hill talks to Matt Allen of Pivot Power about disruption, horses, slot machines – and the importance of customer experience. Electric vehicles (EVs) – including buses, taxis and cars for individual and shared use – are already a common sight on our roads. They are not yet ubiquitous. But that will come. There will be around 30 million electric cars in the world by 2030 (as they