Germany’s fast‑charging market pivots to direct‑payment and retail sites

The European Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), effective from April 2024, now requires all new DC fast‑chargers above 50 kW in the EU to accept common payment methods such as debit/credit cards and mobile wallets. In Germany, this has led Charge Point Operators to promote “direct payment” at fast‑charging stations, allowing EV drivers to tap a bank card instead of using traditional roaming‑charged subscription cards. The shift eliminates costly roaming fees—sometimes up to €0.89 /kWh—by bypassing third‑party mobility service providers.

At the same time, the rollout of fast‑charging points is expanding into retail locations. New German legislation obliges newly built or renovated non‑residential buildings, including supermarkets, to provide charging infrastructure, and encourages existing large parking facilities to upgrade to fast chargers of 150 kW or more. Retail chains such as Kaufland, Lidl and Aldi are increasingly hosting external operators, while plans aim for over 80 % of future charging spots to be ultra‑fast. These developments are reshaping the German EV‑charging landscape by increasing convenience, reducing price disparities, and accelerating infrastructure growth.