Convenient fast car charging

The automotive sector is going through big changes as it shifts from internal combustion engine cars to electric ones. For this transition to succeed, electric car drivers must feel confident they can easily charge their car wherever they go. This means there must be sufficient charging points, and they must be convenient to use.

What did BEUC do?

In the late 2010s, BEUC started observing a lack of convenience as a major hurdle to a greater uptake of electric cars. We therefore called for regulatory action to make charging an easy and hassle-free experience. We highlighted important factors to boost consumer convenience. These included: a) the need to for consumers to see prices in a clear format (price per kilowatt-hour), and b) being able to pay through commonly available debit and credit cards.

The new law, called the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, reflects BEUC’s recommendations for drivers using fast chargers:

• Consumers will be able to pay by debit or credit card.
• Prices will become transparent in a price/kilowatt-hour (kWh) format, mirroring the price/litre logic people are accustomed to with petrol or diesel.
• Charging point operators will have to share data on the availability and real-time use of their charging points.

The new regulation was officially adopted in July 2023. The new rules will be phased in gradually. Existing fast charging stations along the main EU roads should be retrofitted by 2027 to accept card payment.