What you need to know about the AFIR legislation

From April 13, 2024, a new European regulation will enter into force. The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, AFIR for short, should make charging at all new public charging points a lot more price transparent with display of the price per kWh as well as enable other payment options such as a bank card or a QR code, in addition to the usual charging card.

Context

AFIR aims to improve the supply of public charging points and make electric driving in Europe easier. EV drivers will have access to easier-to-find, user-friendly charging stations every 60 km of their journey within the 27 EU countries. It is mainly on pricing information and payment modalities that Europe has wanted to take first steps. In doing so, Europe has made a regulatory distinction between charging stations with a capacity of at least 50kW and below 50 kW to be installed from April 13, 2024.

In this way, AFIR aims to contribute to achieving Europe's sustainability goals: the "Green Deal" that aims to make Europe climate neutral by 2050 and the "Fit for 55," the European Commission's package of measures that aims to reduce CO2 emissions from 1990 levels by 55% by 2030.

Belgium, like all other European countries, must also meet the first AFIR requirements.

In summary, two major changes are taking place : greater price transparency and an expansion of payment methods.

Specifically, what will change as of April 13, 2024?

  1. All public (fast) charging points with a capacity of at least 50 kW installed from April 13, 2024 must:
  • the charging session are also possible via payment terminals and payment service devices such as a payment card reader or payment card contactless payment device. E.g. a charging plaza with a payment terminal or possibility to pay via QR code;
  • the different types of charges should be visible to EV riders, such as price per kWh and any starting charge as well as per-minute rotation charge.

Most charging stations in Belgium require a specific app or charging card to activate a charging session today. Many drivers of electric cars therefore have several charging cards and apps, resulting in (sometimes large) price differences between the various providers.

Existing charging stations must comply with this obligation from 2027 (retroactive regulation).

  1. For publicly accessible charging points with a capacity lower than 50 kW that are installed from April 13, 2024, must:
  • be able to pay for an ad hoc charging session with a common payment system, which a charging card is not, for example, via QR code or application. The QR code will take you to the right charging point in the application where you can then pay with your bank card.
  • Should all price components be clear and available in advance of the charging session; specifically, we are talking about the price per kWh, the price per minute, the price per charging session and any other costs.   


The following rate information applies:

Payment card

Application

Charging card

The price is listed on the charging station screen

The price is listed with the charge point in the application

The price depends on the contract with your charge card provider , called eMSP (e-Mobility Service Provider). If your provider is CenEnergy, you can find the rates in CenEnergy's application


Public versus non-public charging stations: what's the difference?

What is meant by publicly accessible charging points?

What is meant by non-publicly accessible charging points?

AFIR applicable

AFIR NOT applicable

  • Private publicly accessible charge points located on public or private property, such as public parking lots or supermarket parking lots. A charge point on private property that is accessible to the public should be considered publicly accessible even if access is restricted to a certain general group of users, for example, customers. 
  • Charging points on private property whose access is restricted to a limited and circumscribed group of people, such as parking lots in an office building accessible only to employees or authorized persons, should not be considered publicly accessible charging points. 
  • Charging points where the charging session is offered free of charge.

What does your total cost of charging consist of?

The price for charging at a charge point can consist of several components, such as:

  • Price per session (Starting rate): this is the price charged by the charging station provider per charging session started
  • Price per kWh (Charging cost): this is the price per kilowatt-hour for the energy you draw. If you charge with a charge card from a different supplier than the charging station, a surcharge may also be applied by your charge card supplier (eMSP) ("roaming" fee).
  • Parking fee while charging: at some locations you also pay parking fees during the time you are charging
  • Parking fee after charging (Rotation fee or "Idle" fee): at some locations, you also pay parking fees when your charging session ends and you remain at the charging station.

Price indicated by your charge card provider (e-MSP)

It is important to note that there can be (large) price differences between charge card providers as different roaming charges are applied.

How to find out?

  1. Open your charge card provider's charging app, making sure you are logged into your app.
  2. Scan the QR code or locate the charging station.
  3. In the charging application of your charging card provider, you can see the different components of the price at which you can charge at this charging station with your provider's charging card.

If your charge card provider is CenEnergy, you can find the rates in CenEnergy's application.

Important Legal Change: Mandatory Charging Infrastructure in Your Parking Area Starting January 1, 2025