Do you operate or plan a public charging station? The AFIR regulation sets what it must meet - above all simple card payment, a transparent price and barrier-free access. Here is a practical summary.
What AFIR is and who it applies to
AFIR is the European Union regulation on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (Regulation EU 2023/1804), effective from April 2024. It unifies the rules for public charging stations across the EU so a driver can charge and pay easily anywhere. As a regulation it applies directly, without being transposed into Czech law. It concerns mainly operators of publicly accessible charging stations – towns, companies, hotels and commercial networks.
If you operate or plan a public station, three things must be right: simple payment, a transparent price and barrier-free access.
Card payment without registration (ad-hoc)
The key duty for operators: a driver must be able to pay ad-hoc by payment card, without registration, an app or membership. For newly built public charging stations this applies from April 2024. The aim is to end the situation where a driver needed a handful of different cards and apps from every operator.
Transparent price per kWh
A public station must display the price per kWh before charging starts, so the driver knows what they will pay. No more hidden fees and opaque tariffs. The operator sets the price per kWh but must show it clearly in advance.
Fast charging along motorways (the TEN-T network)
AFIR sets how densely fast chargers must be placed along the main European corridors (the TEN-T network). For passenger cars:
| Requirement | Value | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Distance between charging pools | every 60 km in each direction | ongoing, main network by end 2025 |
| Total power of a charging pool | min. 400 kW, with at least 1 station >= 150 kW | by end 2025 |
| Heavy-duty vehicles (trucks) | every 120 km, MCS system up to 3.75 MW | by end 2027 |
These targets mainly concern large networks and the state; for an ordinary operator of a municipal or company station, the payment and transparency requirements above are the crucial ones.
The 2027 milestone: freight transport
The year 2027 in AFIR is linked mainly to charging heavy-duty vehicles: along the main network, powerful stations with the MCS system (Megawatt Charging System) of up to 3.75 MW are to be added by the end of 2027, so a truck can charge during its mandatory break. For operators of passenger infrastructure this mainly means the pressure on the density and power of the public network will keep rising.
What it means for you as an operator
- Enable card payment without registration. A driver must not be forced to install an app or register in order to charge.
- Show the price per kWh in advance. Transparently, before charging starts.
- Do not restrict access. A public station should be open to everyone, not just members of one network.
- Think about records. Public stations are reported to a register (in the Czech Republic via the Ministry of Industry); we can take over this agenda.
When a station is "publicly accessible"
AFIR applies to publicly accessible stations. That means a station open to an unlimited group of users - typically in a car park at a shop, hotel or office, or by a road. A purely private station in a family-house garage or behind a barrier for one company's staff is not public. The line is thin especially at company and hotel car parks; if you are unsure which category your station falls into, we are happy to help assess it.
Common operator mistakes
- A station only for those registered via an app. This is exactly what AFIR abolishes for public stations - ad-hoc card payment must be possible.
- A hidden or unclear price. The price per kWh must be visible in advance, not only on the invoice.
- Forgotten registration with the authorities. A public station is not just a "socket in a car park"; reporting duties come with it.
- An undersized connection. Without power management the station either trips the fuse or forces an expensive upgrade.
How we help you with AFIR
Do not want to handle AFIR yourself? Our public stations are ready for the requirements and we can take over operation. Via the nabij.to portal a driver pays by card via QR without registration, the price per kWh is shown in advance and you set it. We also handle records and reporting. See the Public station operation and Public charging stations pages. We develop and manufacture the stations in the Czech Republic; certified partners handle installation and inspection.
Want a public station compliant with AFIR?
We supply a station that meets the AFIR requirements and handle operation and payments via nabij.to. Get in touch and we will prepare a tailored solution.
Často kladené otázky
What is the AFIR regulation?
AFIR is EU Regulation 2023/1804 on alternative fuels infrastructure, effective from April 2024. It unifies the rules for public charging stations across the EU - especially simple payment, a transparent price and the density of fast charging along motorways.
Must a public station allow card payment?
Yes. At newly built public stations a driver must be able to pay ad-hoc by payment card without registration, an app or membership. Our stations solve this via the nabij.to portal with card payment via a QR code.
Must I display the price per kWh?
Yes. A public station must show the price per kWh before charging starts, so the driver knows what they will pay. The operator sets the price but must show it in advance.
What in AFIR relates to 2027?
The year 2027 mainly concerns charging heavy-duty vehicles: along the main TEN-T network, powerful stations with the MCS system up to 3.75 MW are to be added. For operators of passenger infrastructure it means growing pressure on the density and power of the public network.
Will you help me comply with AFIR?
Yes. We supply a station ready for the AFIR requirements and can take over operation and payments via the nabij.to portal (card payment without registration, price shown in advance). We also handle records and reporting.