At the end of September, the long-awaited Regulation (EU) 2023/1804) on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure, and repealing Directive 2014/94/EU (“AFIR”) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Though the entry into force of AFIR is 13 April 2024, it is worth reviewing the key takeaways that the AFIR introduces as part of the EU’s Fit for 55 package.
The AFIR sets binding national targets for the development of adequate EU alternative fuel infrastructure. The new regulation also establishes common technical specifications and requirements regarding the information to vehicle users for the provision of data and payment requirements. The AFIR includes detailed regulations regarding light-duty and heavy-duty electric vehicles as well as planes and ships.
Member States are obliged to ensure that, at the end of each year, starting from 2024, specific power output targets are provided through publicly accessible recharging stations. The power output varies subject to the type of the vehicles (light-duty electric vehicles or heavy-duty electric vehicles) and their distance along the TEN-T core or comprehensive road network.
The prices charged to end-users by mobility providers must be reasonable, transparent and non-discriminatory and no additional charges shall apply to cross-border e-browsing.
