The Next Phase of the Mobility Transition
Electric mobility has advanced significantly in recent years. Much of what was long considered a vision of the future is now a reality. The number of electric vehicles is growing steadily; Austria has a nationwide charging network, and the fast-charging infrastructure, in particular, has been greatly expanded. The framework conditions have also improved, for example through simpler payment options, adjustments to calibration laws, and new regulations for charging infrastructure in residential properties.
Despite this progress, the mobility transition is not yet complete. Further expansion continues to depend on political and regulatory frameworks. At the same time, demands are growing. Charging infrastructure, power grids, renewable energy, energy storage, and digitalization must be considered more holistically. Processes across company and industry boundaries must be simplified, and the charging infrastructure must function reliably, transparently, and seamlessly for a growing number of users. The necessary infrastructure must also be put in place in a timely manner for the electrification of heavy-duty transportation and logistics.
Five Areas of Focus for the Next Phase of Expansion of the E Charging Infrastructure
Several areas require progress to ensure the continued successful development of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The following five areas of action are particularly relevant in this regard.
- 24/7 Access to Public Charging Infrastructure
- Accessible, Practical Design of Charging Infrastructure
- Targeted Incentives for the Next Market Phase
- Vehicle-to-X (V2X) and Bidirectional Charging
- Framework Conditions for Electric Truck Charging Infrastructure
Enable 24/7 charging
People who charge their vehicles in public expect charging stations to be available at all times. In recent years, a particularly large number of public charging stations have been installed in parking lots at retail stores. The idea behind this is simple: people charge their vehicles where they’re already shopping or running errands.
In practice, however, there are limitations. In some cases, under the Commercial Code, charging stations in retail parking lots may only be used during business hours. As a result, part of the existing charging infrastructure remains unused outside of those hours.
The draft review of the Trade Regulation Act from February 2026 addresses this issue. The proposal is to exempt charging facilities from the permit requirement if charging stations are the only facilities operated on a property or if existing facilities are expanded to include charging stations. SMATRICS supports these changes. It is now crucial that they be implemented quickly and then clearly communicated to operators, authorities, and other affected stakeholders.
Accessibility and Efficiency as the Common Foundation of the Charging Infrastructure
The RVS 03.07.21 standard, “Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles in Public Spaces,” established a uniform quality framework for public charging infrastructure in Austria. Supplemented by the Accessibility Act, key requirements were defined to ensure that as many people as possible can use the infrastructure. These include, for example, appropriate operating heights, sufficient space for movement, and an easily accessible layout of the charging points.
However, this rapid expansion has shown that compliance with regulations and reporting requirements often involves a significant administrative burden. Funding and approval processes, as well as documentation requirements, lead to additional costs and delays. At the same time, certain regulations no longer fully reflect current technical and operational conditions.
SMATRICS advocates regularly reviewing the RVS for proportionality and practicality. The goal is to ensure high quality standards while improving feasibility.
Accessibility remains a key component of the charging infrastructure. The “Design for All” approach ensures that solutions are intuitive and safe for as many people as possible right from the start.
Tax Framework for the Continued Expansion of Electric Mobility
Tax breaks and subsidies have played a key role in establishing electric mobility in Austria in recent years. Measures such as the exemption from income tax on non-cash benefits and purchase incentives have accelerated market growth and made the transition easier for businesses and individuals. Many of these subsidies have since been reduced or discontinued, while new taxes are being discussed. It makes sense that a technology that is becoming increasingly market-viable would require less support.
However, reliable incentives and a stable political framework remain crucial for the continued growth of electric mobility. SMATRICS advocates safeguarding existing benefits for zero-emission mobility and avoiding additional burdens. At the same time, public funds should be used in a targeted manner—for example, to provide long-term toll exemptions for electric trucks through at least 2031, to offer special depreciation allowances for investments in energy and charging infrastructure, and to create tailored support models for SMEs.
Bidirectional Charging as a Building Block of the Future Energy System
As electric mobility gains momentum, Vehicle-to-X—that is, bidirectional charging—is becoming increasingly important for a flexible and resilient energy system. In the future, electric vehicles will not only be able to draw power but also serve as decentralized storage units, contributing to the integration of renewable energy, grid stabilization, and the optimization of energy flows. At the same time, key technical, economic, and regulatory prerequisites for widespread adoption are still lacking.
The Electricity Industry Act laid the initial groundwork for the use of flexibility and bidirectional charging. However, questions remain regarding nationwide implementation, particularly with regard to standards and interfaces, metrology-compliant measurement and billing of energy fed back into the grid, and the market integration of vehicle batteries as a flexibility resource. Existing solutions are not yet fully interoperable, as uniform communication standards between vehicles, charging infrastructure, energy management systems, and grid operators are still being developed.
SMATRICS views bidirectional charging as a central component of a future energy system. To realize its potential by 2030, uniform technical standards, a clear legal and metrological framework, and the removal of economic barriers are needed. In addition, incentives should be created for grid-beneficial applications, such as by exempting feed-in from grid fees. Equally important are information and training initiatives across the entire value chain. Experience from other markets can serve as a guide for accelerated implementation.
Specific Requirements for Charging Infrastructure for Trucks and Commercial Vehicles
As electric mobility gains momentum, significant differences are emerging between the charging infrastructure requirements for heavy-duty commercial vehicles and trucks compared to passenger cars. AFIR currently distinguishes primarily between publicly accessible and non-publicly accessible charging infrastructure, without differentiating by vehicle category or actual user groups. For truck parking facilities, this could lead to challenges in the future if parking spaces designated for heavy-duty vehicles are blocked by passenger cars.
European regulations should take the specific requirements of heavy-duty transport into greater account and address this gap in the AFIR. SMATRICS advocates examining whether separate regulations for electric truck charging infrastructure are necessary. At the same time, the shared use of existing charging depots that are not open to the public or are semi-public offers further potential for expanding the infrastructure. This can give rise to additional business models and foster new forms of cooperation, which should be taken into account in the further development of the charging infrastructure.
Vision for 2030/2040
Recent years have shown that the expansion of electric mobility is possible when infrastructure, regulation, and the market advance in tandem. However, new issues are coming to the forefront as we move toward the next stages of development. Energy integration, digitalization, and simpler, standardized processes will be crucial in determining how quickly electric mobility continues to develop.
The vision is clear. By 2030, electric mobility should be a natural part of everyday life. A nationwide charging network, the increasing electrification of freight transport, and the smart interconnection of vehicles, charging stations, solar power systems, energy storage systems, and power grids form the foundation for this. By 2040, electric vehicles are expected to be even more closely integrated into the energy system and, through smart control, contribute to grid stability. For users, the focus is on a simple and integrated energy solution.