In the Netherlands, TankPro reports that from Saturday 13 April, the AFIR will come into force, a new European regulation that should give users of a publicly accessible charging station more transparency about the charging rates and also offer extra payment options.
The AFIR, the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation, should provide users of publicly accessible charging stations with the same easy and clear charging experience as people who refuel at a petrol station. From Saturday 13 April, new charging points for electric vehicles must not only display the price per kWh before the charging session starts, but also accept payments by debit card.
Until now, charging at a (fast) charging station has been a source of annoyance for many users, because in many cases it is unclear what the charging session in question costs and there is also the risk of having to continue to pay while the vehicle is fully charged but the charging point has remained occupied.
The entry into force of the AFIR should provide more price transparency at each new public charging station and also more ease of payment by making more payment methods possible. For example, it will no longer be mandatory to pay for a recharge via a special card on the smartphone app, but users will also be able to use their regular bank card.
According to TSG, in many cases, multiple charge points in one location can be managed by a central payment terminal, such as the ChargePay. According to TSG, this offers advantages in terms of cost savings, especially for larger car parks or charging parks.
New charging stations
The rules will apply to all new public charging stations with a capacity of 50 kW or more, which will be installed from 14 April 2024. The measure also applies retroactively, which means that before 2027, existing publicly accessible charging points must also comply with the new rules. Administrators and operators will therefore have less than three years from mid-April to comply with the new rules.
Fit for 55
AFIR is part of the EU's ambitious 'Fit for 55' package, aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and boosting a green transition. AFIR is a set of rules that sets binding national targets for the development of an adequate EU alternative fuels infrastructure.
Original story at Good news for charging station users: more price transparency and payment options | TankPro.nl
Share this:
