FAQ

No, the vehicle must have been ordered (date of the sales contract) between 11 May 2020 and 31 March 2022. The vehicle must be put into circulation for the first time by 31 December 2021 at the latest and must not yet have been registered abroad.

However, for vehicles ordered before 11 May 2020 and put into circulation in Luxembourg for the first time between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2022, and which have not yet been registered abroad, the €5,000 grant continues to apply.

According to the Highway Code, it is a hydrogen fuel cell self-propelled vehicle, i.e. a self-propelled electric vehicle powered by a fuel cell that converts the chemical energy of hydrogen into electrical energy to drive the vehicle.

This type of vehicle is still referred to as an FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), therefore an electric vehicle whose energy source is hydrogen stored under high pressure (700 bar) to produce electricity in the vehicle.
 

According to the Highway Code, a 100% electric vehicle is a pure electric self-propelled vehicle whose propulsion is provided by a system consisting of one or more electrical energy storage devices, one or more electrical energy conditioning devices and one or more electrical machines designed to transform the stored electrical energy into mechanical energy that is transmitted to the wheels to drive the vehicle.

This type of vehicle is still referred to as a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle).

The Zero emission vehicles purchased between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022 that are eligible for a €8,000 grant are as follows:

•    a new passenger car (electrical energy consumption** ≤ 18 kWh/100 km) new 100% electric
•    a new large family car*** (electrical energy consumption** > 18 kWh/100 km and vehicle ⩾ 7 seats) new 100% electric
•    a new 100% electric van
•    a new hydrogen fuel cell passenger car or van;

**The electrical energy consumption is included either in the Community certificate of conformity or in another equivalent certificate issued by the vehicle manufacturer or its authorised representative and recorded in the national road vehicle database.

***The vehicle must have at least seven seats, including the driver's seat, and the applicant for aid must be a natural person forming part of a household of at least five persons.
 

The Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Service (CGDIS) is well trained and equipped to extinguish an electrical car fire under normal circumstances.

Each CGDIS operations centre has at least one fire engine with an integrated water tank, and a capacity ranging from 800 to 8,000 litres of water depending on the model. In addition, CGDIS has several water tanks throughout the country, each with a capacity of 10,000 litres of water. CGDIS units also have the possibility to access the water network in residential areas. If no fire hydrant is available, the control centre (112) sends other emergency service fire engines to the scene of the fire, which will deliver water on a relay basis. This common method is used for vehicle fires as well as other fires. For example, the alarm procedure provides for four fire engines with a total capacity of 10,000 litres to be immediately alerted by the control centre in the event of a fire on the motorway.

In addition, the tactical procedure for accidents and fires involving vehicles with modern propulsion systems (including electric vehicles) has been an integral part of the fire brigade training for years. The CGDIS also offers a dedicated training course for operations in facilities open to underground traffic. The tactics taught at the CGDIS are suitable for extinguishing an electric vehicle fire in underground car parks or tunnels.

For reasons of convenience and safety, when acquiring an electric car, it is recommended that a wall-mounted charging station be installed in your home for your private use. This guarantees overload protection and ease of use.

To ensure proper operation and maximum comfort, the following recommendations should be taken into account:

•    the maximum charging power is based on the power of your household connection and must be adapted to your needs. In the case of a typical domestic connection (single-family house) of 27 kW (40 amps), a maximum charging power of 11 kW is recommended. A higher charging power requires a (paid) increase in the power of your domestic connection;

•    the charging station must have a junction or relay upstream, so that it can be connected to the smart meter. From 7 kW upwards, this connection is a requirement of the grid operator, so that the latter can temporarily reduce the power or disconnect the station in the event of a grid failure to avoid damage (e.g. failure of sensitive equipment such as freezers);

•    to enable the use of additional features such as time-shifted charging, it is important to ensure that the internet connection to the wall-mounted charging station is available via mobile phone (if a mobile network is available) or (W)LAN. If a breakdown of charging locations is required (e.g. at the workplace or at home), the charging station must have a mobile connection. There are also smart solutions that allow you to consume your own electricity if you have a photovoltaic system.

Please note: depending on the connection conditions of the grid operators, all installation work must be carried out by a qualified electrician who can advise you on the most suitable solution that satisfies your needs.

Although fuel cell cars are more comfortable to use (and offer a longer range and shorter charging time), there are constraints that prevent significant market uptake at present.

Firstly, the generation of hydrogen requires a significant amount of energy (three times more than the direct use of electricity); secondly, hydrogen is currently generated mainly from natural gas. At present, therefore, charging the batteries of electric cars is more efficient and more sustainable, especially if the electricity comes from renewable sources. In the future, transforming electricity into hydrogen could become an alternative method of storing renewable energy to compensate for temporary fluctuations in the electricity network caused by a significant increase in electricity production based on renewable energy sources.

On the other hand, hydrogen storage infrastructures are currently non-existent in Luxembourg. As fuel cell cars can play a complementary role to electric cars, however, discussions are under way on the establishment of a hydrogen refuelling station as a pilot project in the country.

Moreover, as fuel cells do not emit harmful local emissions, these cars are eligible for a €8,000 grant.
 

While a 100% electric car is powered by electric power alone, the hybrid car has an electric motor alongside its combustion engine, which allows the vehicle to be driven at low speeds or with electric assistance. For these models, the battery can be charged by the engine or by energy recovery while driving. Plug-in hybrid models, on the other hand, have larger batteries enabling genuine electric driving. In this case, the battery can be charged by connecting the vehicle to a station.

In principle, fuel cell cars are electric cars that receive the electricity needed for their propulsion from a fuel cell: hydrogen stored on board is converted into water vapour by electrolysis, with oxygen from the ambient air, thus generating electricity to power the electric motor. These cars do not emit harmful emissions and the hydrogen storage allows for better range and shorter charging times.