AFIR: obligations, standards and impacts on charging infrastructure

1. Overview

The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) is not just a policy recommendation—it is a binding EU law that directly affects every Charge Point Operator (CPO) and e-Mobility Service Provider (eMSP).

It mandates specific technical and operational requirements to ensure a uniform, user-friendly, and interoperable charging network across Europe.

Key objectives include:

• Transparency in pricing.
• Ad-hoc payment capabilities (paying without a subscription).
• Data availability and accessibility.
• Smart charging and bidirectional charging capabilities.

2. Key Obligations for CPOs

For public charging stations below 50 kW:

• Ad-hoc payment via QR code or payment terminal is mandatory.
• Price must be displayed clearly before the charging session.

For public charging stations 50 kW and above:

• Must be equipped with a card reader (payment terminal) for ad-hoc payment.
• Retrofitting existing infrastructure may be required in certain scenarios.

Ad-hoc Payments

Users must be able to pay with a credit/debit card without needing a contract or app subscription with the CPO.

3. Pricing Transparency

AFIR requires that prices be:

• Reasonable, transparent, and non-discriminatory.
• Clearly displayed at the charging station or via mobile devices.
• Broken down by components (e.g., price per kWh, price per minute, session fee).

4. Smart Charging & ISO 15118

AFIR places a strong emphasis on smart charging.

Crucially, it mandates that publicly accessible recharging points must be capable of smart recharging.

This aligns directly with the adoption of ISO 15118 standards:

• ISO 15118-2 and ISO 15118-20 are the recognized standards for implementing secure, smart charging.
• Plug & Charge (PnC) is a key feature facilitated by these standards, enhancing user convenience.

5. Data Accessibility

Operators must make static and dynamic data available through National Access Points (NAPs).

This data must be accessible free of charge to users.

6. Operational Impact

Compliance requires hardware and software updates.

• Hardware: Installing payment terminals, ensuring smart metering capabilities.
• Software: Updating backends to support ad-hoc payments, dynamic pricing display, and OCPI/OCPP protocols for data sharing.

7. Implementation Timeline

The regulation entered into force in 2024.

• April 13, 2024: New stations must meet ad-hoc payment and smart charging rules.
• January 1, 2027: Broader requirements for existing fast-charging infrastructure.