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Blackout fear - first country plans driving bans for electric cars

Switzerland is very worried about a blackout in winter and is preparing radical austerity measures in case of shortages. These include driving bans for electric cars. There could also be restrictions in Germany - first on charging.

Thanks to hydropower, Switzerland has one of the most environmentally friendly power supplies in Europe. But now the Alpine republic fears a blackout. "In winter, the country imports large amounts of electricity. In 2021, it was 5.7 billion kilowatt hours, which came mainly from France and Germany," reports the tech portal "Golem" . In other words, without French nuclear power plants or the occasional German wind energy surplus, the lights would probably go out in Switzerland.
Switzerland plans driving bans for electric cars

But because France and Germany are also highly uncertain cantonists this winter - France because of many outages at nuclear power plants, Germany because of the unpredictable random power from wind and solar energy, coupled with poor solar output in winter and the acute shortage of gas - Switzerland is now reckoning with a high risk of blackout.

A Nov. 23 draft by the Swiss Confederation, titled "Ordinance on Restrictions and Prohibitions on the Use of Electrical Energy," outlines drastic measures that could be taken as part of four escalation levels in the event of an energy shortage. For example, there are stipulations that washing machines must not run at more than 40 degrees Celsius. Refrigerators may not be cooled below 6 degrees. Anything that only serves to provide comfort - such as saunas and steam baths - may then only be used to a limited extent in one's own home.

In addition to extensive rules on the operation of electrical appliances in commercial and private areas, the list of bans also includes piquant restrictions on car traffic. On the one hand, the speed limit on Swiss highways is to be lowered from 120 km/h to 100 km/h. On the other hand, the speed limit on Swiss highways is to be reduced from 120 km/h to 100 km/h. But it will be really tough for drivers of electric cars: they would be banned from driving in the event of a power shortage . Literally, the draft says: " The private use of electric cars is only allowed for absolutely necessary journeys (e.g. professional practice, shopping, doctor's visits, attendance of religious events, perception of court appointments). "

In Switzerland, according to various media reports, this would affect around 110,000 drivers after all - and would of course be absolutely fatal for the politically pushed ramp-up of e-mobility in Switzerland as well: who would still buy an electric car if they had to reckon with not being allowed to drive it at any time, especially in winter? Admittedly, the plan assures that the driving bans will only take place from the third of four "escalation levels". Nevertheless, Swiss citizens must probably be advised to buy an electric car only as a second car, if at all.

In an interview with the tabloid "Blick", the Swiss car importers' association "Auto Schweiz" has confirmed that it will fight against any electric driving ban in the voting process on the planned regulations announced for December. The electricity demand of e-cars in Switzerland in 2021 was just 0.4 percent of the total demand, said Auto Schweiz CEO Andreas Burgener to the "Blick".

FOCUS Online has asked the German ministries for transport and for the economy whether driving bans for e-cars could also come in this country. A response from the ministries is still pending.

It has long been clear that there could also be considerable restrictions on e-cars in Germany in the future - for example, with regard to charging. Because if the load expansion happens faster than the grid expansion, then "grid-serving charging" must be used. In other words, charging will not necessarily take place when the driver needs it, but when sufficient power is available ( read more here ).

Battery cars usually charge at home in the garage. They draw considerably more power than a household appliance at special wallboxes with 3.4, 7.4, 11 or a maximum of 22 kilowatts of charging power. The limiting factor here is not only the home grid, but also the car's integrated charger; often the available charging power of the box cannot be utilized at all.

FOCUS Online asked the experts from the German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE). In fact, Germany faces major challenges if e-mobility is to ramp up smoothly:

According to the VDE, the electricity demand of an average household with four people is currently a maximum of 4 kW, which is called up at the same time. In the future, however, experts expect an additional demand of 10 to 14 kW - due to solar systems, heat pumps, storage batteries and wallboxes for e-cars.


Initially, this is not a problem because the low-voltage grid still has reserves.

In addition, it depends on when the grid is confronted with many new power consumers: "Whether and when the grid is overloaded also depends on the simultaneity factor, i.e. whether all vehicles charge at the same time or rather sequentially. Fan heaters will have a very high simultaneity due to the weather. This is less pronounced with e-mobility. In addition, there is a notification requirement for charging facilities or, in the case of higher outputs, approval must be obtained from the responsible distribution network operator. This makes e-mobility much more transparent for distribution network operators than direct heating systems such as fan heaters ", experts from the Network Technology/Network Operations Forum at VDE told FOCUS Online.

The VDE explains what the prerequisite for "grid-serving charging" is: a temporary shifting of loads by intelligent metering systems (iMSys). The electric car wallbox in the garage at home thus communicates with the grid operator so that the latter has an overview of the current charging situation and can intervene in an emergency. "The alternative would be to allocate network connections for wallboxes on a first come, first serve basis or to temporarily shut down individual network strings in overload situations," say the network experts.

Even if there are no concrete plans as yet, as in Switzerland, owners of e-cars in Germany must therefore also be prepared for the fact that they will not be able to use their vehicle in the same way as a gasoline or diesel engine if energy is once again in short supply. This is no great consolation for drivers of combustion engines, however, as fuel prices are expected to rise again soon.

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