The European Union has passed new laws which will make it much quicker and easier to access electric car charging points across the continent over the next 18 months.
The new rules will see high-power EV recharging stations installed every 38 miles (60km) along the EU’s main roads by 2025. Hydrogen refuelling stations will have to be built in major towns and every 125 miles on the so-called ‘Trans-European Transport’ (TEN-T) network of major roads to supply cars, vans and trucks.
The new rules, called the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), will insist the EV chargers for cars and vans can supply at least 150kW. They must also accept contactless payment and provide full pricing and live charge point availability information through ‘electronic means’ such as an app or sat nav system.
High-speed charging for electric trucks is also covered, with the regulations demanding points with a minimum output of 350kW every 60km along the core motorway network and every 100 km on other main roads from 2025 onwards.
The move is designed to help the the EU reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to achieve climate neutrality in 2050.
As the UK has left the EU, it is not obliged to follow the rulings but has made commitments about domestic charging infrastructure. The government has committed to ensure there are at least six high powered charge points at each motorway service area by the end of 2023 and is pledging £950m for a Rapid Charging Fund to fit at least 6,000 high powered charge points across England’s motorways and major A-roads by 2035.
New UK regulations will mean all new public chargers with power above 8kW will need to provide contactless payment methods and clearly show the price of power.
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