Funding pool exhausted: 114,000 Swiss parking spaces to get charging stations

After more than 8,000 applications for over 114,000 parking spaces, Zurich Canton’s funding pool is empty. 50 million francs have been allocated through the program launched in April 2023 to expand charging infrastructure. Municipalities continue to receive funding for public charging stations.

The funding program launched in April 2023 to develop charging infrastructure in Switzerland’s Canton of Zurich has been concluded. The funding pool provided by the cantonal council, amounting to 50 million francs (approximately 54.4 million euros), was fully exhausted two months before the official deadline. The canton reports that over 8,000 applications were submitted. The funds were used to develop more than 114,000 parking spaces.

“The strong interest is encouraging and important for climate protection. Transportation accounts for around 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the canton. Thanks to electric vehicles, we have the technology to reduce emissions; we just need to put it to use,” says Government Councillor and Construction Director Martin Neukom.

Specifically, around 95 percent of the funds went into single-family and multi-family homes. Private homeowners received a flat amount of up to 500 francs (about 544 euros) per parking space to facilitate the later installation of wall chargers.

In addition, nearly 200 companies benefited from the funds, able to claim subsidies of up to 30,000 francs (about 32,620 euros) for business premises and fleets, as well as eleven municipalities. According to the Canton of Zurich, demand was distributed relatively evenly. Based on population size, the districts of Uster and Meilen had the highest subsidy rates, followed by Affoltern, Hinwil, and Bülach.

The Canton of Zurich also informs that the online platform for new applications is now closed. Completed applications that have already been submitted will still be processed and paid out, provided that the installations are verified within the specified deadline. For applications that cannot be processed immediately due to insufficient funds, the Canton maintains a waiting list in case the funds that have already been allocated become available again.

While private and commercial inquiries are closed, the charging infrastructure on public land continues to be expanded. Through the “Charging in the Neighborhood” subproject, the canton continues to assist municipalities in installing AC charging stations for residents who do not have their own parking space. For this purpose, the canton relies on the framework loan from the general Energy Support Program, approved by the cantonal council in August 2026.