Electric cars are selling better than ever before – but not everyone benefits from them. The taxpayer has to step in with around 20,000 euros per vehicle if the entire useful life is considered. The subsidies are mainly earned by wealthy citizens, as a new study shows.

E-cars: Taxpayers are asked to pay

According to a new study by Deutsche Bank, electric cars provide one huge redistribution. For every e-car sold, taxpayers have to put more than 20,000 euros on the table over the entire service life. In addition to lavish subsidies with which the state is fueling the purchase of electric cars, there are also extensive tax shortfalls.

The redistribution is particularly evident in the upper middle class. A comparison between the combustion engine VW Golf live and the electric VW ID.3 Pure results in extensive Tax losses for the general publicas calculated by Deutsche Bank. Losses arise here, among other things, in the case of value added tax and the bypassed vehicle tax.

Also the Energy tax on fuel consumption is significantly lower for electric cars. With the VW ID.3 Pure, around 550 euros are incurred over a period of twelve years, while the energy taxes for the combustion engine VW Golf Life make themselves felt at 6,500 euros.

We clarify mistakes about e-cars in Video on:

E-cars: the wealthy benefit the most

While the tax advantages and subsidies for electric cars are borne by the general public, wealthy Germans in particular benefit from them. Who about a has higher income, who makes use of the state subsidy measures more often. The cars are also used more often as a second car or as a company car. Low-wage earners with their own car are asked disproportionately to pay for this (source: Deutsche Bank).