Electric cars were long considered significantly more expensive than comparable vehicles with combustion engines. Today, the range of models is much broader, and when it comes to actual costs, there is more to consider than just the purchase price. Energy, maintenance and operating costs as well as potential subsidies and tax benefits also play a role.
Since 2026, the purchase and leasing of new electric cars in Germany have once again been eligible for government subsidies. Depending on the vehicle, income and family size, private buyers can receive a subsidy of up to €6,000.
The materials used can also help reduce costs. One example is the selectrify® steel battery housing developed by thyssenkrupp Steel. In a defined comparison scenario, it can be produced at up to 50 percent lower cost than an aluminum solution while offering almost the same weight and crash safety.
Whether an electric car is cheaper or more expensive cannot be answered across the board. In addition to the purchase price, it is therefore worth considering costs over the vehicle’s entire service life.
Thanks to modern and flexible production processes, lightweight steels offer many advantages - from emission savings in production to more favorable purchase prices for electric cars.
Electric cars and water might sound like a problematic combination at first. But concerns that an electric vehicle could be damaged in a car wash or even pose a risk of electric shock are unfounded.
Modern vehicles are comprehensively protected against moisture, and their electrical components are appropriately insulated. This applies to electric cars as well as vehicles with combustion engines, which also contain numerous electronic systems.
So there is no reason why an electric car can’t go through a car wash.
A well-developed charging infrastructure is an important prerequisite for e-mobility. Especially on longer journeys, having sufficient public charging points available is crucial.
The network continues to expand: As of June 1, 2026, the German Federal Network Agency had registered 152,915 standard charging points and 53,292 fast-charging points in operation – more than 206,000 publicly accessible charging points in total.
Technology is advancing at the same time. High-performance electrical steel such as powercore® from thyssenkrupp Steel plays an important role here. Non-grain-oriented powercore® traction grades are used in highly efficient electric motors. Grain-oriented electrical steel is used in applications such as transformers, helping to make energy distribution more efficient.
Charging infrastructure remains an important factor for e-mobility. However, more than 206,000 registered public charging points show how significantly Germany’s charging network has grown.
How long it takes to charge an electric car depends, among other things, on the battery, charging power, and charging station. Modern charging technologies are making charging times shorter and shorter.
How long it takes to charge an electric car depends on several factors: the battery and its current state of charge, the vehicle’s maximum charging capacity, the charging station and even the temperature.
Charging at a wallbox at home generally takes longer than at a fast-charging station. But at home, the vehicle can be charged overnight, for example. On longer journeys, modern fast-charging systems enable significantly shorter stops. The time required to charge from 10 to 80 percent is often used as a meaningful benchmark. Above around 80 percent, the battery management system in many vehicles reduces the charging rate to protect the battery.
Electric cars therefore don’t need to be fully charged after every journey. In everyday life, charging can often be integrated into times when the vehicle would be parked anyway.
Reports of burning electric cars repeatedly attract attention. This can quickly create the impression that electric vehicles generally have a higher risk of fire than vehicles with combustion engines. However, current studies paint a different picture: Statistically, electric cars do not have a higher risk of fire than comparable gasoline or diesel vehicles.
If a battery fire does occur, however, it places specific demands on vehicle safety and firefighting. Protecting the battery is therefore particularly important.
The selectrify® battery housing from thyssenkrupp Steel combines crash and corrosion protection with electromagnetic shielding and fire protection. High-strength steels also enable particularly slim crash structures. This saves installation space and creates additional room for the battery.
Statistically, electric cars do not have a higher risk of fire than gasoline or diesel vehicles. Materials, design and protection systems play a crucial role in battery safety.
Electric mobility has long since become part of everyday life. Modern materials and components help make electric vehicles efficient, safe, and high-performance.
Less engine noise doesn’t automatically mean less performance. Electric motors can deliver high torque, enabling dynamic acceleration.
One important component of the electric powertrain is the rotor shaft. As part of the rotor, it transfers torque from the electromagnetic to the mechanical system. Its design therefore has a significant influence on the performance of the powertrain.
The drive specialists at thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components develop and manufacture rotor shafts specifically for electric powertrains. Their multi-part, hollow design also allows additional functions such as cooling to be integrated.
Less noise doesn’t mean less performance. Modern electric powertrains can deliver high torque and correspondingly dynamic acceleration.
Electric cars are significantly quieter than vehicles with combustion engines. However, this can make other sounds more noticeable. Electric powertrains and their power electronics, for example, can generate high-frequency sounds that may be perceived as unpleasant.
This is where bondal® from thyssenkrupp Steel comes in. The sandwich material consists of two steel sheets with a viscoelastic polymer layer between them and offers sound-damping properties. Studies show potential applications for optimizing acoustics around electric drive motors and their power electronics.
The material can therefore help reduce unwanted noise inside the vehicle and further improve acoustic comfort in electric cars.
The acoustics of electric vehicles can also be specifically optimized – including through specially developed materials such as bondal®.
Many myths surrounding e-mobility stem from concerns that were understandable, particularly in the technology’s early years. Since then, vehicles, charging infrastructure, powertrain technologies and materials have developed significantly.
With materials and components for electric powertrains, battery housings and other applications, thyssenkrupp is helping to make e-mobility more powerful, efficient and safe.
Learn more about our business segments