Uniti urges EU to make AFIR revision more practical for SMEs

The German SME energy association Uniti, representing around three‑quarters of Germany’s road fuel stations, is calling on the European Commission to shape the ongoing review of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) around practical, competitive and investment‑secure rules. It argues that the revision should not become a vehicle for additional expansion mandates, but rather improve the existing framework to match real demand, site and grid capacity, vehicle uptake and financial viability.

Uniti’s chief executive Elmar Kühn stresses that the regulation must accommodate decentralized, mid‑size business models, ensure non‑discriminatory access to charging and hydrogen infrastructure, open‑data and technology‑neutral payment options, and consider specific needs of heavy‑vehicle sites and hydrogen stations. The association says such adjustments would boost SME participation in the decarbonisation of transport and accelerate the rollout of alternative‑fuel services.