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Getting the AFIR right to fuel Europe’s bold climate ambitions
The **EV charging infrastructure** we build today lays the foundation for tomorrow. To that end, Europe needs regulation that will promote and support the **transition to more sustainable transport**. That’s exactly what the European Union (EU) is aiming to achieve with the proposed **Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR)**. This regulation revises existing legislation to set minimum targets for EV charging infrastructure and to harmonize requirements across the 27 EU countries.
Let’s take a closer look at this proposal: What is it? How do we feel about it? And what changes would make it better?
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The **AFIR** sets pan-EU rules and targets for developing publicly available refueling and recharging points beyond electrification. For this article, we’ll focus on how it affects the expansion of EV charging infrastructure. Key principles include **fairness**, **openness**, and **accessibility**.
Proposed in July 2021, the AFIR is currently going through final negotiations. Once adopted, it will apply across the EU by late 2023 or early 2024.
At **EVBox**, we strongly support the AFIR's ambitions and approach—from price transparency to data sharing that benefits both customers and innovation. We applaud the goal of pushing for a harmonized ecosystem that supports EU-wide investments and the rollout of EV charging infrastructure, establishing a level playing field of rules.
However, we also have some suggestions for improvement to ensure the EV charging rollout meets Europe’s bold climate goals for 2030 and beyond.
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Some negotiators have proposed adding a **payment card reader** to every publicly accessible charging station in Europe. The idea is that people are used to paying for gasoline with their cards, and the EU doesn’t want to make the transition to electric mobility harder.
While this may seem like a good idea on paper, the reality is more complex. As we explain below, this requirement could slow down innovation and EV adoption, potentially harming the convenience the AFIR aims to provide.
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### The headache of “one-off†payments
Today, many EV drivers face challenges when using charging stations. They may need to download an app, create an account, or buy a subscription—something they don’t need in their home country or city.
We agree that this issue should be addressed. We also support the EU’s goal of making it easier for customers to pay for EV charging.
However, we disagree that installing a payment card reader on every charging station should be the way forward.
One reason is that **95% of European EV drivers today don’t pay with credit or debit cards** but use payment plans and subscriptions, just like when streaming TV, listening to music, or hailing a taxi.
Another reason is that there’s a better solution: **Roaming**.
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### EV Roaming and the Single Market approach
Since 2017, Europeans can "Roam-like-at-Home" using their mobile phones without extra charges within the EU. Applying the same principle to EV charging could be a game-changer for the rapid and widespread deployment of EV infrastructure across the continent.
The EU aims to allow citizens to study, live, work, and retire anywhere in the EU while enjoying products and services from all over Europe. Extending this concept to EV charging would greatly benefit drivers.
The EV roaming concept already exists in theory. In practice, the EU still needs to develop a **common minimum roaming requirement**. Today, there is no true Single Market in EV charging, as our CEO Remco Samuels recently noted.
EV roaming would allow drivers to charge at any public charging point—whether in their own country or another EU member state—without needing to sign up with a new provider.
And the best part? The vast majority of charging stations are already compatible with roaming.
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### Tailoring solutions to different challenges
Adding a direct payment terminal to **new DC fast charging stations** shouldn't cause major issues. These stations are large enough to accommodate a terminal, and the cost increase would be minimal.
However, payment terminals make little sense—especially for **slow AC chargers**. They are small and compact, making it technically difficult to fit a payment terminal. Plus, the cost is **prohibitively high** considering the low number of daily charging sessions and revenue generated.
As a result, the cost per session for EV drivers would rise significantly—with no real benefit.
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### Retrofitting existing infrastructure
The proposed change in the AFIR suggests that **every publicly accessible charging station ever installed** must have a payment card reader. This would likely lead to many operational AC stations being taken offline.
With technicians already in short supply, this retrofitting effort could hinder the rollout of EV infrastructure and delay progress toward the “Fit for 55†targets.
We should ask ourselves: Is it really worth updating old equipment with outdated technology at the expense of expanding and evolving our charging network? Especially when we have better solutions available?
If you think the answer is no, then we agree.
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### Conclusion
The **AFIR** is a hopeful first step toward a well-functioning EU-wide single market in EV charging. It would help bring the EV charging experience closer to filling up a traditional vehicle’s tank—allowing drivers to use more stations, make informed choices, and travel freely across the EU.
For years, drivers have dealt with fragmented and poorly connected EV charging systems across the 27 EU countries. The AFIR has the potential to kickstart regulatory harmonization across all member states.
However, we urge the AFIR negotiators to be bold and build an accessible electric mobility network based on forward-looking technologies like **EV roaming**. We encourage them not to rely on outdated methods.
We stand at a crossroads. The decisions made today will shape the speed of EV adoption, the attractiveness of electric mobility for businesses, and the overall electrification of Europe. We hope the EU negotiators choose to align with current consumer trends and industry best practices, setting Europe up for success.
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**About the author**
Zuzana PúÄiková is the **Director of Public Policy Europe** at **EVBox** since February 2023. In this role—as well as Chair of the Management Committee of **ChargeUp Europe** and **European Climate Pact Ambassador**—she promotes the role of electromobility in powering a sustainable future and advocates for policies to accelerate it.
A Slovak national, Zuzana is a multilingual public affairs professional with over 15 years of experience working on digital and consumer topics in European institutions, the private sector, and media. She holds a degree in Economics and M.A. degrees in European and international affairs.