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Blog9 September 2026JOLT Redaktion

Deutschlandnetz: Germany’s Government-Backed Fast-Charging Network Explained Simply

If you drive an electric car, you’ll know this everyday question: Where can I charge quickly and reliably when I’m on the road? This is exactly where the Deutschlandnetz comes in. With this government-organized fast-charging network, the German federal government aims to ensure that you can reach a high-performance charging station within a short time anywhere in Germany.

Ein dunkelgrünes E-Auto fährt auf einer kurvigen Straße durch einen dichten Wald.

But what exactly is behind it? How many Deutschlandnetz locations are already in operation, and what does the network mean for your everyday charging experience? This article puts the key facts into context and explains why a government-backed fast-charging network and urban charging solutions complement each other so well.

What Is the Deutschlandnetz?

The Deutschlandnetz is a nationwide expansion program for fast-charging infrastructure. The Federal Ministry of Transport is responsible for the program, while the project is coordinated by the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure, which is part of the federally owned NOW GmbH. The project was first presented in August 2021.

The goal is ambitious: From anywhere in Germany, the nearest fast-charging station should be reachable within around ten minutes. In this way, the program is specifically designed to close the remaining gaps on the charging map, particularly in rural areas and along motorways. Unlike traditional funding programs, the federal government awards contracts for the rollout to private operators through public tenders. This allows it to retain influence over site selection, charging capacity, and payment options.

How the Government-Backed Fast-Charging Network Is Structured

The network is divided into two major tenders.

The regional lots comprise 23 lots with around 900 locations in rural, suburban, and urban search areas. Ten operators were awarded contracts in September 2023. The motorway lots cover six lots with around 200 locations at unmanaged motorway rest areas, where approximately 1,000 additional charging points are to be installed. These contracts were awarded in February 2024 to four companies.

In total, around 9,000 fast-charging points are expected to be installed at more than 1,000 locations. One point is important for context: The exact figures vary depending on the source. Some publications refer to around 9,000 charging points, while others mention up to approximately 10,000. Each charging point provides at least 200 kW of charging power, while 300 kW or more is available at many locations.

The amount of government funding also deserves a closer look. Figures range from around €1.8 to €1.9 billion in many reports to approximately €2.3 billion, which more recent reports cite for the overall program.

Operators include Fastned, Allego, E.ON, and BayWa Mobility Solutions, among others. Fastned opened the very first location in Düren, North Rhine-Westphalia, in December 2023. Operators receive government funding for construction and operation but, in return, pay a share of their revenue back to the federal government over a period of eight years.

Deutschlandnetz Locations: How Many There Are and Where to Find Them

How far has the rollout progressed? Here, too, it is worth taking a careful look, as figures for Deutschlandnetz locations vary considerably depending on the reporting date and source. By spring 2026, the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure reported that more than 250 charging parks were in operation, with the number continuing to rise. As new sites are added on an ongoing basis, this figure changes practically every month.

The locations are not chosen at random but are developed within predefined search areas. Along motorways, a charging facility is planned every 15 to 30 kilometers. The easiest way to see which Deutschlandnetz locations are already in operation is via the Deutschlandnetz page of the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure and the general charging station map of the Federal Network Agency.

According to the schedule, the rollout is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. However, delays cannot be ruled out for a project of this scale, especially since the project itself began around a year later than originally planned.

How Much Charging on the Deutschlandnetz Costs

One of the network’s key promises is fair and transparent pricing. Charging is possible without a contract or membership, and every driver can charge directly using ad hoc payment.

The original concept envisaged a so-called dynamic price cap of 44 cents per kilowatt-hour for ad hoc charging, which was intended to adjust in line with market developments. Following discussions with the European Commission, however, the German government abandoned this fixed cap. Since then, market-based prices in accordance with the tender requirements have applied. In practice, ad hoc prices at Deutschlandnetz locations tend to fall within the lower to mid-range of the market. As electricity prices and tariffs change continuously, it is best to check the current rates shortly before charging.

Criticism and Open Questions

Like any large-scale project, the government-backed fast-charging network has also been the subject of debate. Criticism has focused, among other things, on the delayed start, individual locations at unmanaged rest areas without additional infrastructure, and the originally planned price cap, which parts of the energy industry considered problematic for the wider market. Such debates are part of a project that aims to combine government-led infrastructure expansion with functioning competition.

Deutschlandnetz and JOLT: The Perfect Complement for Urban Areas

The Deutschlandnetz primarily focuses on closing gaps in rural areas and along motorways. In densely built-up city centers, by contrast, conventional fast-charging concepts often reach their limits: Space is scarce, and installing high-capacity grid connections can require extensive and costly construction work. This is exactly where JOLT complements the public charging network.

JOLT is a Charge Point Operator (CPO) specializing in battery-buffered ultra-fast charging in urban areas. Thanks to its integrated battery storage system, the charging infrastructure delivers up to 320 kW of charging power without the need for expensive grid upgrades. This allows electric vehicles to charge enough energy for around 200 kilometers of range in just 10 minutes, 24 hours a day. JOLT therefore brings fast charging exactly where many people spend their everyday lives: at supermarkets, petrol stations, and central locations within local neighborhoods.

Unlike the operators of the government-backed network, JOLT is not part of the government tenders. However, both approaches pursue the same goal: creating a dense and reliable fast-charging network that makes the transition to electric mobility noticeably easier. You can see where JOLT charging stations are already available on the JOLT charging map.

The Deutschlandnetz closes charging gaps in rural areas and along motorways, while JOLT brings high-speed charging to the city. Discover JOLT locations near you and find out how battery-buffered fast charging can add value to your location.

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