EU AFIR regulation to transform electric vehicle charging infrastructure

The European Union’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) is set to implement significant changes to the electric vehicle (EV) charging landscape, with major deadlines approaching in 2027. The regulation aims to make electric refueling as accessible and transparent as traditional fuel stations.

Key mandates include the requirement for all fast and ultra-fast DC charging stations to feature contactless credit or debit card readers. While this applies to new installations as of April 2024, existing stations must comply by January 1, 2027. Additionally, charging tariffs must be transparent and comparable before a user begins a session.

To address range anxiety, the regulation dictates specific infrastructure density along the Trans-European Transport Network (RTE-T). By the end of 2025, charging pools with at least 400 kW of output must be available every 60 kilometers in each direction on the core network. For passenger cars and vans, member states must ensure total charging power is proportional to the number of registered vehicles, specifically providing at least 1.3 kW of power per registered electric vehicle and 0.80 kW per plug-in hybrid.