The growth in demand for new electric vehicles (EVs) might have
hit a speed bump in Europe lately, but European Union (EU)
policymakers aren't hitting the brakes on enacting new regulations
to strengthen EV charging network in the region. The paucity of
charging points is regularly cited as a reason for prospective
buyers holding back on EVs.
Last year, the EU passed a new regulation called the Alternative
Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) as a replacement to the
catchily-titled Directive 2014/94/EU on alternative-fuel
infrastructure, better known as the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure
Directive (AFID). On 13 April 2024, the new regulation, aimed at
improving the user experience and convenience while charging EVs at
public chargers, came into effect.
The AFIR sets binding targets for refueling infrastructure
powered by electricity or other sources. For charging
infrastructure, AFIR mandates are related to distance, charging
power output and payments. As per the distance-based targets for
light vehicles, there needs to be a charger every 60 kilometers on
the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) core-road networks in
each direction. By the end of 2025, each of the recharging pools
should offer a power output of at least 400 kW and include at least
one recharging point with an individual power output of at least
150 kW. By the end of 2027, this requirement will increase to 600
kW.
Notably, the AFIR requirements are dynamic, flexing to match the
number of EVs in use. For each light-duty BEV registered in a
country, publicly accessible recharging stations have to provide a
total power output of at least 1.3 kW. For each plug-in hybrid
electric vehicle (PHEV) registered, the total power output required
is 0.8 kW.
New policy to drive higher utilization rate of
chargers
There are also measures in AFIR governing how charging point
operators (CPO) offer payments. The goal is that users will be able
to seamlessly use and pay at any charging station in the EU, making
all new publicly accessible recharging points accessible to users
on an ad hoc basis. Another important clause in AFIR is related to
the display of pricing. According to AFIR, “Users of alternative
fuel vehicles should be provided with accurate price information
before the start of the recharging or refueling session.”
This will ensure that EV drivers will not require membership of
the any charging network. This is expected to increase the
utilization rate of the chargers. Although it may seem like
networks will lose the membership model, the higher utilization
rate of chargers could translate to better return on investment
(ROI) moving forward. This mandate is currently applicable to only
new installations, however, all existing DC charging points along
the European TEN-T transport axis should be able to charge ad-hoc
with a debit or credit card by 1 January 2027.
Combination of policies to tackle the charging
issue
What's more, EU policymakers are not only focused on improving
public charging infrastructure. Recently, the European Union
parliament passed the Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD),
which mandates new requirements for recharging infrastructure and
pre-cabling in buildings and adjacent car parks at home and the
workplace.
According to the new directive, member states are required to
simplify, streamline and accelerate the procedure for installing
recharging points, and remove barriers to installing recharging
points in multi-apartment buildings. In new and under-renovation
residential buildings with more than three parking spaces, at least
one recharging point should be available, and pre-cabling should be
there for at least 50% of car parking spaces and ducting of
recharging points for EVs. Non-residential buildings with more than
five car parking spaces should have at least one recharging point
for five spots, and non-residential building with more than 20 car
parking spaces should have at least one recharging point for 10
spots.
Most charging still happens at home and this will continue for
the foreseeable future. According to S&P Global Mobility,
domestic charging stations will account for more than 93% of all
charging stations deployed in Europe in 2030 (see the chart
below).
The EU wants to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Among other
measures, the 27-member bloc hopes to meet its targets with the
widespread use of EVs. The EU wants to have at least 30 million
zero-emission cars in operation by 2030, and this target will be
difficult to achieve without a widespread, user-friendly EV
charging network. The revised EPBD and AFIR are key in this regard,
and they are policy landmarks on the road to net zero by 2050.
Author: Srikant Jayanthan, Senior Research Analyst,
Supply Chain & Technology, S&P Global Mobility
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