Which EU rules apply to charging?
A compliance manager at a charging company starts the review of a new public 150 kW charger. The company's own office car park follows as a second application in stop 06.
Her checklist starts with one question for every rule: does it apply directly, or through national law?
The questionWhich EU rules apply to a charger, and how do they reach it?
| Type | Covers | |
|---|---|---|
| AFIR(EU) 2023/1804 | regulation | targets, payment, prices, data |
| Low Voltage Directive2014/35/EU | directive | electrical safety |
| Measuring Instruments Directiveas amended 2026 | directive | meters, chargers from 2028 |
| Buildings Directive (EPBD)(EU) 2024/1275 | directive | charge points in buildings |
| Renewable Energy DirectiveRED III | directive | smart charging, battery data |
| Electricity Directive(EU) 2019/944 | directive | market rules, electromobility |
| Batteries Regulation(EU) 2023/1542 | regulation | batteries, incl. EV batteries |
Each act in its official text: AFIR, the Low Voltage Directive, the amended Measuring Instruments Directive, the EPBD, RED III, the Electricity Directive and the Batteries Regulation. The following stops look at AFIR, measuring law and the buildings rules in detail.
Regulation or directive
- A regulation is a binding legislative act that must be applied in its entirety across the EU. applies in every Member State in the same words.
- A directive sets out a goal that EU countries must achieve, and it is up to each country to devise its own laws to reach it. The building and energy rules reach a charger through national law, with national details.
A product, a service, a building
A charger is a product (safety, metering), a service (prices, payment, data) and often part of a building (, charge points per parking space). Each role brings its own rules. The Low Voltage Directive, for example, covers electrical equipment between 50 and 1,000 volts AC and 75 and 1,500 volts DC.
Check your understanding
3 questions. Answer all of them to complete this stop. Each answer explains itself.
What is the difference between an EU regulation and a directive?
Regulations apply in their entirety across the EU; directives set goals and countries devise their own laws.
Which EU act sets targets, payment and price rules for public charging?
AFIR, the regulation on alternative fuels infrastructure.
Why do directive-based rules differ between EU countries?
It is up to the individual countries to devise their own laws on how to reach the goals.
- AFIR Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (EU) 2023/1804: EU rules for public charging, from payment to coverage. EV charging fundamentals, stop 08 Glossary
- Pre-cabling Cabling installed in advance at a parking space, so that a charge point can be added there later. Stop 06 Glossary
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 (AFIR), Articles 3, 4, 5, 14, 15, 20 and 26. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1804/oj. Checked 13 Oct 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
- EUR-Lex: Directive 2014/35/EU (Low Voltage Directive), Article 1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/35/oj. Checked 09 Oct 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
- EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2026/706 amending Directive 2014/32/EU, Annex Va (MI-011). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2026/706/oj. Checked 13 Oct 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
- EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings (recast), Article 14. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1275/oj. Checked 13 Oct 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
- EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III), Article 20a. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2023/2413/oj. Checked 13 Oct 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
- EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2019/944 on common rules for the internal market for electricity, Article 33. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/944/oj. Checked 09 Oct 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries, Article 3: electric vehicle batteries. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1542/oj. Checked 09 Oct 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
- European Union: Types of legislation: regulations, directives and other acts. https://european-union.europa.eu/institutions-law-budget/law/types-legislation_en. Checked 09 Oct 2026.
- European Union: Types of legislation: regulations, directives and other acts. https://european-union.europa.eu/institutions-law-budget/law/types-legislation_en. Checked 09 Oct 2026.
- EUR-Lex: Directive 2014/35/EU (Low Voltage Directive), Article 1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/35/oj. Checked 09 Oct 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.