On 26 June 2025, a webinar hosted by POLIS brought together public authorities, policy experts, and private sector stakeholders to highlight new guidance developed under the Sustainable Transport Forum – Public Authorities subgroup (STF-PA). These guidelines aim to help cities, regions, and national administrations meet the ambitious goals of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR – Regulation (EU) 2023/1804).
As public authorities take a central role in the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, the need for practical, replicable solutions is growing. The webinar introduced three recently published STF-PA documents:
- Guidelines for Tender Procedures: Designed to assist authorities in launching tenders for publicly accessible recharging points for light-duty vehicles. Emphasising long-term strategies, stakeholder coordination, and grid-friendly deployment, this document supports transparent and effective procurement.
- Fire Safety Guidance: Focuses on covered parking facilities and charging points, with practical recommendations for fire risk assessments, detection systems, evacuation routes, and specialised firefighting measures for BEVs.
- Recommendations for Captive and Specialised Fleets: Offers tailored support for fleet recharging needs, including for buses, delivery vehicles, and municipal fleets, addressing specific operational and locational requirements.
A forthcoming guideline on accessibility of EV recharging infrastructure in the EU was also previewed.
Key speakers included:
- Pedro Gomes, Clean Vehicles & Air Quality Lead, POLIS
- Aleksandra Klenke, Policy Officer, DG MOVE
- Aaron Fishbone, Director of Public Policy at GreenWay and ChargeUp Europe
- Raphaël Héliot, Senior Policy Manager, E-mobility Europe
- Görkem Türer, Policy & Project Officer, E-mobility Europe
Together, they stressed that successful AFIR implementation requires coordinated action across all levels of governance, capacity building, and integration with broader mobility strategies. The webinar highlighted the need for aligning EV infrastructure with public interests, user experience, and commercial viability.
The guidelines are available on the EAFO website under Policy Recommendations, offering a valuable resource for municipalities, transport authorities, and national ministries.
These efforts reflect the European Commission’s broader commitment to equitable, safe, and future-ready e-mobility.
Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.
