In short: AFIR is the European regulation that makes public charging infrastructure uniform, user-friendly and affordable. It applies directly in every EU member state and sets concrete requirements for anyone operating publicly accessible charge points: ad-hoc charging without a contract, payment by (bank) card, transparent pricing and data sharing. MobilityPlus takes care of everything for you: from compliant hardware to payment, price display and data sharing.
In this blog: what AFIR is, who it applies to, what's mandatory and when, what non-compliance costs and how MobilityPlus takes care of it for you.
AFIR stands for the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1804). It is a European regulation, not a directive, which means it applies directly in all member states, without first having to be transposed into national law. It has been in force since 13 April 2024.
The goal: a single uniform, user-friendly and interoperable charging network across Europe, so that driving electric becomes smooth and reliable for everyone. To achieve this, AFIR imposes two types of obligations:
The single most important question is: are your charge points publicly accessible or private?
Publicly accessible: anyone can charge there (at least part of the time) – e.g. the car park of a shop, hotel, restaurant, or an office with visitor spaces. → AFIR applies.
Private / non-public: only a defined group can charge, e.g. a closed company car park for staff only, or a charge point at home. → AFIR does not apply here (although other rules may still come into play).
⚠️ A common mix-up: AFIR is about public charge points. This is separate from the Flemish/European building obligations (EPBD), which since 1 January 2025 require, for example, existing non-residential buildings with more than 20 parking spaces to provide at least two charge points. Two different sets of rules, often confused. We help you work out what applies to your situation.
The key obligations for publicly accessible charge points at a glance:
| From | What is mandatory |
|---|---|
| 13 April 2024 | New public charge points must allow ad-hoc charging: charging and paying without a prior contract or subscription. New DC fast chargers (≥50 kW) must enable payment by card reader or contactless. |
| 2025 (TEN-T) | Along the core motorway network: fast chargers of ≥150 kW every 60 km for passenger cars and vans. |
| 14 April 2025 | Operators must make certain static and dynamic data (location, power, price, real-time availability) available free of charge, so they appear in apps and maps. |
| 8 January 2026 | New or substantially renovated public AC charge points must comply with the EN ISO 15118-2 standard (among others, for secure, standardised communication). |
| 2027 | Existing public charge points of ≥50 kW must also be equipped with an ad-hoc payment option by then. |
| 1 January 2027 | All new charge points must comply with the EN ISO 15118-2 and ISO 15118-20 standards (among others, for secure, standardised communication and V2G capability). |
The requirements differ depending on power and type:
Payment without a subscription must always be possible at public points (ad-hoc).
DC ≥ 50 kW: a physical card reader or contactless payment is mandatory.
AC < 50 kW: payment via smartphone using a QR code / secure ad-hoc method is sufficient, alongside or instead of a card reader.
Price transparency: the price (start fee, price per kWh and price per unit of time) must be clearly displayed before you enter your payment details to start the charging session. For ad-hoc charging, the price may also not be unreasonably higher than the contract price.
Data sharing: static and dynamic data must be made available (often via standards such as OCPI), so drivers can find your charge point and see its availability and price.
Not being in order is no small matter. The possible consequences:
Enforcement and penalties: member states monitor compliance and can impose fines or restrict the continued operation of non-compliant public charge points.
Invisible to drivers: if you don't share the required data, your charge point won't appear (correctly) in charging apps and maps – you miss out on usage and revenue.
Payment problems: without ad-hoc payment, passing drivers can't charge: frustration, poor reviews and lost turnover.
Expensive retrofit later: anyone installing non-compliant hardware now risks having to replace or adapt it (expensively) later.
Grants & reputation: non-compliance can stand in the way of access to grants/subsidies and damages your image as a professional player.
This is where we come in. At MobilityPlus you don't need to become an AFIR expert. We handle it end-to-end:
Tailored advice: together we determine whether your charge points are public or private and which obligations (AFIR and, where relevant, the building obligations) apply to you.
Compliant hardware: we provide charging stations that meet the applicable standards (including payment and ISO 15118-2 where required).
Payment & price transparency: ad-hoc charging, correct payment options and clear price display, fully in order.
Data sharing sorted: we make sure your static and dynamic data are shared correctly, so you're visible in apps and maps.
Management & monitoring: ongoing follow-up, so you stay compliant with future deadlines too.
✅ The result: you focus on your business, we make sure your charging infrastructure is fully AFIR-proof, today and tomorrow.
Discover how we handle price transparency and payment →
AFIR doesn't have to be a maze. The essence is simple: public charge points must be user-friendly, affordable and transparent, and share their data. The biggest pitfall is confusion about what applies to you, and being non-compliant can prove costly. With MobilityPlus as your partner, you get complete peace of mind: clarity, compliant equipment and one less thing to worry about.