The AFIR Regulation: What Operators of Charging Stations Need to Know Now

With the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), the European Union has established a binding legal framework for the expansion of charging infrastructure across Europe. The EU regulation is a key component of the European transport transition and sets out clear guidelines for the widespread roll-out of public charging infrastructure and alternative fuels.

For operators of charging stations, the AFIR introduces new technical, regulatory and market-related requirements. At the same time, it opens up significant opportunities for growth and investment in the charging infrastructure market thanks to binding expansion targets as well as uniform standards across Europe.

What does AFIR Regulate?

The AFIR Regulation sets out the minimum requirements for alternative fuel infrastructure (in particular charging and refuelling infrastructure) in the Member States. These include the installation of sufficient charging infrastructure, interoperability of systems, as well as clear information and straightforward payment solutions to ensure user-friendly access to charging and refuelling infrastructure.

But what does this actually mean for businesses, fleet operators and the energy sector?

Easy Payment Options

A key component of the AFIR is the simplification of payment at public charging points. The aim is to make the use of charging infrastructure across Europe more transparent, accessible and user-friendly.

Whilst frequent users and corporate fleets often benefit from charging cards and contractually agreed tariffs, the option to pay directly is becoming increasingly important, particularly for occasional users and in cross-border transport.

The AFIR specifies that certain new public charging stations must be equipped with Direct Payment Terminals (DPT) since 2024. For existing public charging points, this requirement applies starting 1 January 2027. This ensures that customers can pay directly at the charging point using common payment methods such as debit or credit cards, regardless of the operator.

For operators of charging infrastructure, this means clear technical requirements as well as investment in payment systems that comply with calibration law and are interoperable.

SMATRICS EnBW has already equipped virtually its entire Austrian network of high-power chargers (HPCs) with direct payment terminals (DPTs). As an e-mobility service provider, SMATRICS is therefore already meeting the requirements applicable from January 2027 for existing HPC charging infrastructure, with a Direct Payment Terminal compliant with calibration law to ensure transparent and traceable charging costs. The SMATRICS Direct Payment Terminal complies with calibration law and enables transparent billing and full cost control from a single source.

Smart Charging and Load Management

The accelerated roll-out of HPC charging stations is not only a technical but above all a strategic challenge for network operators and infrastructure providers. With the binding roll-out targets set out in the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, the power demand on the grid is set to rise significantly. At the same time, grid stability, security of supply and cost-effectiveness must be maintained.

For network providers, this means that the expansion of the charging infrastructure is increasingly becoming an integral part of their network development strategy. Rather than relying solely on costly network upgrades, smart control and load management systems are gaining strategic importance.

Smart charging solutions such as LOCI from SMATRICS enable the grid-friendly integration of large charging fleets by dynamically managing power, reducing peak loads and making optimal use of existing grid capacity.

From a strategic perspective, intelligent load management is therefore a key enabler for scalable expansion, cost-effective HPC sites and a long-term stable energy infrastructure.

Expansion of the Charging Network in the EU

Another key component of the AFIR is the widespread expansion of the charging infrastructure across the EU. This applies not only to passenger cars, but also, and in particular, to E-Logistics. Electric trucks and busses place significantly greater demands on charging capacity, grid connections and charging infrastructure, particularly along Europe’s main transport corridors.

In practice, this means that charging infrastructure must be predictable, efficient, and standardized across Europe. Users should be able to charge their vehicles seamlessly within the EU—without having to deal with different technical standards, access systems, or information formats in every country. Interoperability and uniform regulatory frameworks are therefore essential prerequisites for cross-border electric mobility.

Additionally, AFIR tightens requirements regarding transparency and data reporting. Operators of public charging infrastructure are required to provide more comprehensive operational data—such as location, availability, charging capacity, and usage. This data serves not only to improve user information but also to support planning, market transparency, and monitoring and reporting to regulatory authorities.

For operators, this means that data management, digital interfaces, and regulatory compliance are becoming key competitive factors in the European charging infrastructure market.

Summary

With the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, the EU is sending a clear signal in favour of the mobility transition in Europe. The regulation tightens regulatory requirements for charging infrastructure operators—particularly in the areas of interoperability, transparency, payment options, and data provision. At the same time, it creates new market opportunities and investment certainty through binding deployment targets and uniform standards across Europe

Companies that invest in interoperable systems, smart charging solutions, high-performance backend infrastructure, and strategic partnerships early on can strengthen their competitive position in the long term and tap into additional revenue streams in the growing electric mobility market.

AFIR thus establishes a reliable framework for accelerating the expansion of the charging infrastructure in the EU. However, to turn these ambitious goals into reality, coordinated measures at the national and regional levels, targeted grid investments, and the consistent use of smart technologies to ensure grid stability and scalability are required.