European EV charging cost and tax concerns

In late July 2026, Dutch homeowners' groups highlighted a double VAT problem for electric‑vehicle owners who charge through a homeowners’ association (VvE). The charge is levied both by the electricity supplier and the charging‑point operator, potentially adding up to €190 a year. The association asked the finance minister for a specific exemption or a simplified recovery procedure, warning that the issue will expand as more apartment dwellers adopt EVs.

A few days later, Austrian EV advocates warned that a draft tariff for electricity‑network use could raise public‑charging fees, especially in multi‑apartment buildings, by moving peak‑demand charges from 16 to 27.5 cents per kWh. The proposal could render up to half of public chargers uneconomic. At the same time, Austria plans to end the zero‑tax benefit for private use of electric company cars, introducing a taxable benefit that would increase monthly costs for users. Both snapshots illustrate a broader European trend of policymakers and industry groups confronting rising taxation and fee structures that threaten the affordability and expansion of electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure.