What are AFIR’s requirements for charging stations?

Learn why our high-power charging stations have been designed to comply with this regulation seamlessly

Regulatory shifts are crucial as the electric vehicle (EV) charging sector transforms rapidly. One example is the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which came into force on the 13th of April, a new EU regulation that sets out minimum standards for the rollout of alternative fuel infrastructure across Europe. This includes charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). The AFIR guidelines launched by the European Parliament’s main focus was on the density of a European charging network and stipulated that fast charging stations of at least 150 kW for cars and vans must be installed every 60 km on the main EU transport corridors (TEN-T) in the European Union by 2026, offering a total of 400 kW, with the network’s power output increasing to 600 kW by 2028. Besides, for trucks and buses, AFIR includes that the entire TEN-T must be equipped with fast-charging stations of at least 350 kW every 120 km, increasing to 50% by 2027 and 100% by 2030. 

To meet these deployment targets, Circontrol has developed several ultra-fast charging stations. These include the Raption Compact 160 and the Raption Compact 240, both designed to provide convenient fast charging for EV drivers and contribute to sustainable transportation.

In addition to power, the AFIR contains further specifications for these publicly accessible charging points and pay modalities. All in all to make it as easy as possible for EV drivers to access public charging points and ensure that charging stations are reliable, affordable, and interoperable.

At Circontrol, we endorse this initiative since it aligns with our core mission of designing solutions focused on the user experience.

Key AFIR requirements for charging stations include:

Ad-hoc payments

DC fast chargers from 50 kW must be equipped with a card reader or a contactless payment option for ad-hoc payment without user registration. In this sense, our renewed Raption series is AFIR-ready, featuring integrated contactless terminals from different manufacturers, to adapt to every country’s need or preference.

Transparent and non-discriminatory pricing

For charging points under 50kW, the price should be displayed per kilowatt-hour (kWh), session, and minute. For charging points over 50kW, the price should be displayed per kWh, with an additional occupancy rate per minute. On this matter, the large 15-inch touch screen on our Raption DC charger range displays pricing information, allowing users to check prices. Moreover, to guarantee that users are only charged for the exact amount of energy used, our Raption series offers an optional DC direct current billing MID meter. This meter has a built-in LCD display showing real-time measurements, energy usage, alarms, and legal data to the EV user.

Circontrol is committed to guiding CPOs, wholesalers, and end consumers through this significant transition by ensuring readiness and compliance with the new standards, with cutting-edge charging solutions adapted to the needs of today’s EV drivers.