The European Union’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which took effect on April 13, 2024, mandates that public electric vehicle charging stations across member states adopt transparent pricing and direct card payment terminals, according to reports by facile.it, newsauto.it, and moveo.telepass.com. While newly installed high-power chargers must already comply with these rules, operators face a hard deadline of January 1, 2027, to retrofit older infrastructure with contactless point-of-sale systems and clear digital displays.
Direct Credit Card Payments Replace Mandatory Apps
Drivers charging electric vehicles at public stations will no longer need to rely exclusively on dedicated mobile applications, RFID cards, or operator subscriptions. facile.it reported that the AFIR legislation requires all new direct-current charging stations with a capacity of 50 kW or higher to feature contactless payment terminals for standard debit and credit cards.
newsauto.it noted that this requirement brings public electric vehicle charging closer to traditional petrol station transactions, allowing motorists to arrive, pay, and charge without creating an account. For charging points with a capacity under 50 kW, operators may implement secure digital alternatives such as QR codes that link directly to a mobile-accessible payment web page without registration walls, as detailed by facile.it.
EU Regulations Mandate Clear Energy Pricing and Real-Time Data
The European regulation prohibits hidden fees and arbitrary flat tariffs for energy sessions. facile.it explained that charging point operators must clearly display pricing metrics on the station screen prior to initiating a charge.
Prices must appear in a standardized sequence:
- Energy cost per kilowatt-hour (€/kWh)
- Any applicable per-minute time or occupation fees
- Fixed session start costs or other mandatory tariffs
moveo.telepass.com reported that operators are also required to transmit real-time data regarding station location, power output, pricing, and live availability status in open formats so third-party navigation systems and map applications can integrate the information.
AFIR Sets Charging Station Density Targets Along Transport Networks
Beyond payment systems, the AFIR framework establishes strict physical density targets across the trans-European transport network. moveo.telepass.com reported that high-power charging stations delivering a minimum of 150 kW for passenger cars must be installed at maximum intervals of 60 kilometers along the primary TEN-T motorway corridors.
newsauto.it noted that the regulation links public infrastructure expansion directly to the local adoption rate of electric vehicles. Member states must guarantee a specific public charging capacity proportional to the number of registered battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. moveo.telepass.com specified that the mandate requires at least 1.3 kW of public power for every battery electric car registered, and 0.8 kW for every plug-in hybrid.
Implementation Progress Across Italian Charging Networks
In Italy, the rollout of point-of-sale terminals and upgraded hardware is currently underway but remains uneven outside major transport routes. facile.it observed that while motorway operators such as "Free To X" have equipped all primary service areas with card terminals, coverage across secondary urban and regional networks varies by provider. Major charge point operators including Ewiva and Atlante are progressively retrofitting high-power hubs ahead of the strict January 1, 2027 deadline set for legacy infrastructure.
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