Demands Hanke for increased cost disclosure at electronic charging stations

In a bid to promote the adoption of electric vehicles, the state-owned Asfinag has announced plans to increase the number of charging points for cars along its routes to 1,500 by 2030. This ambitious expansion is set to receive around half a billion euros (480 million euros) in funding this year and next.

The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), a stock corporation not subject to Minister Hanke's instructions, has also joined the initiative, announcing plans to install 1,500 charging stations for vehicles along its routes by 2030. These charging stations are expected to go into operation in 2021.

Asfinag has published a tender for the installation of e-charging stations at the first 21 Asfinag rest areas, including at least 8 fast-charging stations per location for cars and overnight charging stations for heavy traffic.

Austrian Minister of Transport Peter Hanke (SPÖ) has been a strong advocate for this transition, advocating for price transparency at charging stations as part of the planned expansion. He has also expressed his support for the planned 2035 phase-out of combustion engines but has refrained from abolishing the diesel privilege.

The Benya formula, a long-standing basis for annual wage negotiations, is not specific to the transportation sector and is used in collective bargaining negotiations. However, it does not apply to the ÖBB. Hanke has stated that the Benya formula is not outdated, having worked well for decades, but has also suggested that all parameters should be discussed again in economically challenging times.

Hanke's comments on the Benya formula were made in the context of upcoming collective bargaining negotiations at ÖBB. The Minister expects a "reasonable compromise solution" for these negotiations in the fall.

Minister Hanke has, however, remained silent on the topic of a general speed limit of 100 km/h. The Benya formula links annual inflation and a portion of overall economic productivity growth to wage increases. The goal for charging infrastructure is to have 95% of Austrians within a 10 km radius of a fast-charging point (23 to 150 kW) by 2030.

The Benya formula is not completely untouchable according to Hanke, and its future use in collective bargaining negotiations at ÖBB remains to be seen. The Minister's stance on the matter will be closely watched as the negotiations approach.