What does AFIR say?
All the information about AFIR, clearly and concisely.
Who does AFIR (the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation) apply to?
The public availability of charging points for electric vehicles is a fundamental requirement for the roll-out of electromobility. In this context, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) is particularly important.
From 13 April 2024, ad-hoc charging at charging points will become mandatory, meaning the ability to charge and pay without a prior electricity contract. To understand which charging points AFIR applies to, a clear distinction must be drawn between publicly accessible and non-publicly accessible charging points.
These are characterised by certain features and markings that restrict the group of users of the charging points. AFIR focuses only on publicly accessible charging points that are open to a wide range of people without individual restriction. The criteria and features that determine the public nature of a charging point in line with AFIR are explained in more detail below.
Key criteria and characteristics under AFIR
Public: Unrestricted access without individual identification.
A charging point is considered publicly accessible if the associated car park is open to the general public without any special signage or markings. This includes charging points on kerbsides or in car parks without barriers and signs.
Non-public: Clear restriction through signage or markings.
A charging point, on the other hand, is non-public if the operator makes it clear through visible signage or markings that use is restricted to a specific group of people. Examples include signs such as ‘Parking only for…’ or similar, which specify a particular use. Please note: ‘Parking only for customers’ is not sufficient, as ‘customer’ is too general and vague.
A barrier or registration alone does not constitute a restriction.
AFIR takes into account that the public nature of a charging point is not affected by registration alone. What matters instead is that the primary business purpose of the car park is to serve a wide range of people without individual restrictions.
An important change awaits operators of EV charging stations: from 13 April 2024, newly installed public charging stations across Europe will be required to offer ad-hoc payment by credit or debit card.
From 13 April 2024, operators of publicly accessible charging stations in Europe must comply with new requirements and enable ad-hoc charging using a “widely used payment instrument”. Under AFIR, this means debit and credit cards. Various technical implementations are possible.
The obligation to install card terminals applies to newly installed direct-current charging stations with a charging capacity of 50 kW or more.
For lower charging capacities (e.g. AC charging points), alternative, secure payment methods remain permissible. A specific “card terminal” device does not necessarily have to be installed.
Several charging points at a single location can generally also be operated via a central payment terminal. This reduces investment and operating costs, particularly at larger car parks or charging hubs.
What are the possible solutions?
For charging points with a charging capacity below 50 kW, a secure payment process must be provided. AFIR gives the so-called “dynamic QR code” as an example. After the code is scanned with a smartphone, the user is redirected to the corresponding price display and payment for the charging session.
Another obvious solution is the integration and use of a suitable card reader (card terminal). Payment for the charging session can then be made conveniently and contactlessly via the NFC technology built into the debit or credit card, or via a corresponding payment function – Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc. – on the smartphone.
Payment terminal
One of the advantages of card payment for EV drivers is their familiarity with the payment method. They can conveniently pay for charging by presenting a bank card – spontaneously and without prior registration or a long-term contract with a provider. Displaying the price on the device before charging also ensures full transparency of charging costs. For charging station operators, the option of card payment therefore increases the availability and user-friendliness of the charging infrastructure. This is reflected in greater customer satisfaction, a broader customer base and better utilisation of the charging stations.
However, debit and credit card payment entails higher investment and operating costs.
No obligation to upgrade AC charging points!
For charging stations with a charging capacity below 50 kW, there is no obligation to retrofit!
From 1 January 2027, existing DC charging stations along the European TEN-T transport corridor must also be able to charge ad-hoc using a debit or credit card. This therefore also constitutes an obligation to retrofit direct-current charging points.
Are there any other legal requirements for ad-hoc charging?
In addition to the option of ad-hoc payment, charging station operators must also meet further requirements set by possible national regulations and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). These include the transparent display of prices. AFIR stipulates: at publicly accessible charging points with a charging capacity of 50 kW or more, the tariff must be displayed at the charging point.
For charging stations with a charging capacity below 50 kW, the information must be clearly and easily accessible to EV drivers. The technical implementation therefore also allows greater freedom here. EV drivers can thus estimate in advance how much the charging session will cost.
When does AFIR apply and where can I find the law?
AFIR, a key component of EU legislation supporting alternative fuels, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 22 September 2023 as Regulation 2023/1804 and enters into force on 13 April 2024. It will have a significant impact on the future design of charging infrastructure in Europe.