EU rules for EV charging in 2026: AFIR, RED III and EPBD

Three EU texts shape EV charging in 2026: a regulation (AFIR), and two directives, the building directive (EPBD) and the renewable energy directive (RED III). They do not bind the same people in the same way. This article separates what applies to charge point operators from what is addressed to Member States and building owners.

Note that RED III here means directive 2023/2413 on renewable energy, not the radio equipment directive that shares the nickname.

AFIR: directly applicable since April 2024

Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 needs no transposition and has applied since 13 April 2024. For operators, the core duties are:

Ad hoc payment without a contract on accessible public points. From 1 January 2027, public points of 50 kW or more on the TEN-T network or on a secure parking area must offer a card reader or contactless option, including points deployed earlier.

Price transparency: from 50 kW, a price per kWh, with an optional occupation fee per minute, shown before the session starts.

Connectivity: public points must be digitally connected since 14 October 2024, and capable of smart charging if built after 13 April 2024 or renovated after 14 October 2024.

Data: since 14 April 2025, static and dynamic data published free of charge through an API declared to the national access point.

The deployment targets on the TEN-T network, such as at least 400 kW per pool by the end of 2025 and 600 kW by the end of 2027 on the core network, and 1 400 kW then 3 600 kW for heavy-duty vehicles, are targets that Member States must secure. They are not a per-station duty for every operator. Our article on the AFIR regulation details them.

ISO 15118: a dated requirement, through a delegated act

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/656 amends the technical annex of AFIR. For public points installed or renovated from 8 January 2026, the minimum is ISO 15118-1 to -5. From 1 January 2027, it is ISO 15118-20:2022, and a point offering plug and charge must meet both ISO 15118-2 and -20. Private points in mode 3 or 4 installed or renovated from 1 January 2027 follow ISO 15118-20.

AFIR does not name OCPP. Remote control and connectivity are required; the protocol between charge point and CSMS is not prescribed.

EPBD: buildings and parking

The recast Directive (EU) 2024/1275 is addressed to Member States. Its transposition deadline is 29 May 2026 for the relevant provisions, including Article 14 on charging. Which Member States have transposed it is not covered here and should be checked country by country.

Article 14 sets, in broad terms:

New or heavily renovated non-residential buildings with more than five parking spaces: at least one charge point for every five spaces, pre-cabling for at least half of the spaces and ducting for the others. For offices, one point for every two spaces.

Existing non-residential buildings with more than 20 spaces: from 1 January 2027, one point for every ten spaces, or ducting for at least half of them.

New or heavily renovated residential buildings with more than three spaces: pre-cabling for at least half of the spaces and ducting for the rest.

The charge points concerned must be capable of smart charging and, where relevant, bidirectional charging, with non-proprietary, non-discriminatory protocols. On tenants and co-owners, the directive requires Member States to remove obstacles; a request can be refused only on serious and legitimate grounds. The text does not use the phrase right to plug.

RED III: credits and smart charging

Directive (EU) 2023/2413 amends directive 2018/2001. It had to be transposed by 21 May 2025 in general. Three points concern operators:

Credits: operators supplying renewable electricity to vehicles through public points receive credits that can be sold to fuel suppliers, even if they are not themselves subject to the obligation.

Grid data: transmission and distribution system operators must make available the renewable share and greenhouse gas content of electricity, with a step of at most one hour.

Private points: new or replaced non-public normal-power points must be able to support smart charging, and bidirectional charging where relevant.

RED III sets no number of charge points and does not make vehicle-to-grid mandatory. It requires the national framework to allow participation in flexibility markets, including by aggregation.

What to do this week

Sort your sites by public or private, power, and installation or renovation date. For each public point, check payment means, price display, remote control and the data you publish. Note which points have had to meet ISO 15118 since 8 January 2026, and which will have to from 1 January 2027. GFO Omni is a CSMS that supervises charge points over OCPP 1.6, 2.0.1 and 2.1.