Making AFIR work in practice – for simple, affordable and verifiable charging in Europe

Good regulation is measurable – not open to interpretation. AFIR can bring about a breakthrough in user-friendly charging. To achieve this, key requirements must be clearly defined, verifiable and economically feasible.

Vienna, 9 December 2025 – The EU Regulation on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (AFIR) sets important guidelines for the expansion of charging infrastructure and a better user experience. The Trusted Charging Alliance (TCA) expressly supports the objectives of AFIR. From a practical implementation perspective, however, more precise, verifiable and economically feasible specifications are needed in key areas to ensure that user-friendliness and expansion speed are not slowed down by room for interpretation, unnecessary costs and unclear testing logic.

Background and objective of the statement

To achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the EU is focusing heavily on electrification in the transport sector. This can only be achieved with a reliable charging infrastructure that is available throughout the EU. With AFIR (EU) 2023/1804), the EU is creating central guidelines for this – from minimum coverage and technical standards to payment. Between 2025 and 2027, further binding requirements will follow in the form of legal acts, in particular on open data, standards, and private charging infrastructure. The aim of our statement is to strengthen this implementation phase with clear, verifiable and economically feasible requirements – so that user-friendliness and expansion are not slowed down by room for interpretation and inconsistent interpretation.

“We all want public charging to be as easy as refuelling across Europe. For AFIR to achieve this goal, key requirements must not be open to interpretation, but must contain clear minimum standards and clear test criteria,” explains Gerald Stiepan, Vice President of the Trusted Charging Alliance (TCA).

Eight points that now need to be clearly regulated

In an open letter published today, the Trusted Charging Alliance (TCA) identifies eight key areas for action:

1. Clearly specify card payments at DC and AC charging points – clear minimum requirements, no contradictory interpretations.
2. Regulate direct payment practically – define equivalent options in such a way that user-friendliness is achieved without unnecessary additional costs. Allow Plug & Charge based on Secure Codes (SRCI) at terminals instead.
3. Define accessibility in a binding and verifiable manner – measurable criteria instead of unclear “recommendation” interpretations. Align disability with e-mobility (treat blind/deaf people in the same way as roadworthiness)
4. Address uniform, consumer-oriented standards binding – interoperability requires clear guidelines.
5. Clearly define “publicly accessible” – clear demarcation (e.g. semi-public/business) for legal certainty.
6. Private charging points from 2027: regulate transition/existing stock/calibration law logic – predictable paths instead of retrofitting uncertainty.
7. Ensure verifiability – including vehicle-to-grid (V2G) – requirements must be auditable and take future grid utility into account. All testing centres in the EU must be recognised.
8. Clearly regulate liability – assign responsibilities along installation/operation and private/business lines.

“If specifications remain unclear or audit trails are missing, this leads to delays, higher costs and, ultimately, higher prices for consumers. Smaller and rural locations in particular must not be left behind due to additional complexity,” Gerald Stiepan continues.

Goal: consistent implementation instead of a patchwork quilt