Charging stations every 60 km: What the European Union Council Says

Not only the ban on gasoline and diesel by 2035. In Europe, there is also a discussion about updating Dafi (or Afir, in the original language), the regulation on refueling infrastructure for alternative power systems, including charging stations for electric cars.

The Council of the European Union has reached an agreement with the European Parliament on the final version of the new regulation. Now, all that remains is the formalization of the agreement by both institutions and publication in the Official Journal of the Union before it comes into effect. In the meantime, let's review what the text entails.

The halt to fossil fuels and diesel by 2035 reopens some issues related mainly to the update of DAFI, namely the regulation on refueling infrastructure for alternative power systems, including charging stations for electric cars.

The Council of the European Union has indeed reached an agreement with the European Parliament on the final version of the new regulation. All that remains is the formalization of the agreement by both institutions and publication in the Official Journal of the Union before it comes into effect.

But what does the text provide for?

Regarding charging stations, the regulation stipulates that the Ten-T network must be equipped with at least one charging station every 60 km, following these capacities and deadlines:

• At least 300 kW for cars, with a minimum of 15% reserved for a single charging point, by the end of 2025.
• At least 600 kW for cars, with a minimum of 150 reserved for two charging points each, by the end of 2030.

DAFI then establishes a set of rules for truck charging and the installation of hydrogen stations for both light and heavy vehicles. One of the objectives is also full interoperability throughout the Union.

The agreement aims to be a clear signal to citizens and stakeholders, as suggested by a statement from Andreas Carlson, Minister of Infrastructure of Sweden, to raise awareness and reassure about the well-known charging anxiety, which we have already discussed, even in Norway, where a dedicated term for this modern 'phobia' has emerged.