AFIR review: shaping Europe’s alternative fuels network

The European Commission has launched a public consultation as part of the review of Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, commonly known as the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). AFIR is a central element of the EU framework for supporting the deployment of sufficient, interoperable and user-friendly infrastructure for alternative fuels across Europe. [European Commission, Have Your Say; Regulation (EU) 2023/1804]

AFIR sets mandatory deployment targets for publicly accessible electric recharging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for road vehicles. It also includes provisions for on-shore power supply in maritime and inland waterway ports, liquid methane infrastructure in maritime ports, and electricity supply to stationary aircraft. In addition, the Regulation establishes requirements on operation, technical interoperability, data sharing and national planning through Member States’ National Policy Frameworks.

The consultation invites stakeholders and the general public to provide feedback on the current state of play and on whether further EU-level action is needed. The Commission is assessing several possible areas for policy development, including the sufficiency and coherence of infrastructure deployment, the quality of the user experience, the implementation of technical standards, the accessibility of infrastructure data, and the proportionality of planning and reporting obligations.

A key focus of the review is whether the current AFIR targets are sufficient to ensure coherent infrastructure coverage across all EU regions. This includes electric recharging infrastructure for light-duty vehicles, dedicated infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles, and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. The consultation also asks whether additional regional or corridor-based measures may be needed to address gaps in deployment, especially along the TEN-T network, in urban nodes, and for heavy-duty vehicle charging.

For heavy-duty vehicles, the review raises particularly important questions. As the market for zero-emission trucks develops, infrastructure must be available where it is operationally relevant: along long-distance corridors, in urban nodes, at logistics hubs, and for overnight charging. The consultation also considers whether clearer minimum criteria are needed for a recharging point or pool to be classified as dedicated to heavy-duty vehicles, including requirements related to layout, dimensions and practical usability by trucks.

The review also looks beyond road transport. For maritime and inland waterway transport, the consultation asks whether additional targets may be required for alternative propulsion fuels such as electricity, hydrogen, ammonia or methanol. For aviation, it considers whether infrastructure for battery-electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft should be addressed more explicitly. These questions reflect the broader challenge of ensuring that infrastructure planning keeps pace with emerging zero- and low-emission technologies across transport modes.

User experience is another central theme. AFIR already includes provisions on card payment, transparent pricing and non-discriminatory access. However, the consultation asks whether additional measures are needed to improve price transparency, ensure reasonable prices, expand payment card acceptance, support accessibility for persons with disabilities, and better reflect electricity market conditions in charging prices.

The consultation also addresses technical interoperability and data accessibility. Possible measures include certification schemes, compliance monitoring by national competent authorities, further harmonisation of National Access Points, and a stronger role for the Common European Access Point in facilitating EU-wide access to alternative fuels infrastructure data. Reliable, harmonised and accessible data remains essential for users, market actors, policymakers and public reporting tools.

Finally, the review considers how planning and reporting requirements can remain fit for purpose. While accurate monitoring is necessary to assess progress towards AFIR targets, the consultation also asks whether some requirements create unnecessary administrative burden. At the same time, the Commission highlights the lack of information on private recharging infrastructure, especially depot charging for heavy-duty vehicles, where many recharging sessions are expected to take place.

The AFIR review is therefore an important opportunity to assess whether Europe’s alternative fuels infrastructure framework remains aligned with market developments, technological progress and user needs. Stakeholders across transport, energy, infrastructure, logistics, industry, public authorities and consumer organisations are encouraged to contribute to the consultation and share evidence from their respective sectors.

https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/16672-Review-of-EU-rules-on-alternative-fuels-infrastructure/public-consultation_en 

Source: European Commission, Have Your Say public consultation on the review of Regulation (EU) 2023/1804; Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.