Regulations Revised for Electric Vehicles
The European Union is set to implement a new charging regime for electric vehicles (EVs), in compliance with the European Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). This binding law, which sets targets and standards for alternative fuel infrastructure, including EV charging stations, aims to roll out comprehensive, interoperable EV charging networks across EU member states.
The new regime, which is currently on hold following the conclusion of a public consultation at the end of March, has been shaped by the opinions of various industry stakeholders, gathered by ECO/Capital Verde. The public consultation document was assessed differently by these stakeholders, with points of agreement and disagreement emerging.
One of the consensual positive points was the provision of automatic payment terminals, deemed beneficial for user convenience. Self-consumption at charging points was also widely supported, reflecting a growing emphasis on renewable energy adoption.
However, competition and potential impacts on prices were contentious issues, with stakeholders expressing varying views. The public consultation document did not clarify whether the new regime would have an impact on the decarbonisation of transportation, as earlier mentioned in the Government's document.
The new regime eliminates the requirement for contracts with retailers, simplifying licensing procedures, as highlighted in the Government's document. It also allows for direct payment at all public points, enhancing user convenience further.
Under AFIR, member states must meet specific infrastructure deployment targets, ensure technical interoperability, and implement new technical standards. From June 2025, this will include mandatory support for the EN ISO 15118 communication protocol on alternating current (AC) charging stations, enabling advanced functionalities like ‘Plug and Charge’ services and future bidirectional charging between EVs and stations.
Member states must develop and submit a National Strategic Framework by the end of 2025, outlining their plan to meet AFIR targets. These include a dense network of charging points on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and in urban nodes. The Sustainable Transport Forum provides guidance to help local and national authorities implement AFIR effectively.
While AFIR provides a regulatory framework and technical standard for rolling out EV charging infrastructure, studies suggest that the current infrastructure placement requirements may not perfectly align with actual demand patterns. This implies that member states might need to adapt and supplement the regulation with national measures to optimize infrastructure deployment and avoid inefficiencies and losses.
In summary, the new EV charging regime, in line with AFIR, aims to shape a more convenient, interoperable, and sustainable EV charging landscape across Europe. The regime's implementation, however, remains on hold pending the resolution of the disagreements raised during the public consultation.
The recommendations put forward by ECO/Capital Verde, gathered during the public consultation, have shaped the new EV charging regime, which aims to embrace data-and-cloud-computing for efficient management and monitoring of charging networks. This modern approach, following AFIR, underscores the integration of technology into environmental-science, particularly climate-change mitigation strategies.
Moreover, the new regime's focus on user convenience, as seen through the provision of automatic payment terminals and self-consumption at charging points, signals both the growing importance of consumer satisfaction and the increasing emphasis on renewable energy in the context of technology advancements.
