More charging stations along Polish roads will be available, and they will be faster. Drivers will no longer need to create accounts or install apps to pay for using fast chargers. These are the key changes introduced by the EU AFIR regulation, which came into effect on April 13, 2024. As reported by Money.pl, the regulation mandates that member states expand their electric vehicle charging networks. It also requires that charging operators enable ad hoc payments, meaning no app or RFID card from a specific network is needed for payment.

As of the end of February, there were 6,213 publicly accessible charging points in Poland, of which only 1,706 were fast DC chargers, according to data from the Electromobility Meter by the Polish Alternative Fuels Association (PSPA) and the Polish Automotive Industry Association.

By 2025, along the corridors of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), including motorways, expressways, and national roads, fast charging stations with a capacity of at least 400 kW should be placed no more than 60 km apart (in both directions). By 2027, their capacity is expected to increase to at least 600 kW, primarily to support the charging of electric trucks and buses rather than passenger cars.

The EU regulation also introduces changes to how payments are made for electric vehicle charging. It mandates that, from now on, payments for using chargers with a capacity of at least 50 kW can be made ad hoc—without registration, an app, or a special card from the operator.

According to Paweł Włudyga, a board member of NOXO ENERGY, “the AFIR directive’s requirement for operators to provide ad hoc payment options will not significantly improve the convenience of using public infrastructure.”

“Charging a car has long been and remains a more convenient activity than, for example, refueling,” he adds.

What else should you know about the new regulations? We encourage you to check out the full article: https://www.money.pl/gospodarka/nowe-przepisy-od-13-kwietnia-to-rewolucja-na-polskich-drogach-7016441631439776a.html