Three Things European CPOs Need to Know About AFIR’s 2027 Deadline

By Angad Tiwana, Head of payment solutions ABB E-Mobility

As the EV charging industry matures across Europe, regulatory compliance is becoming an increasingly important part of operating public charging infrastructure. One of the next major milestones is approaching on 1 January 2027, when specific requirements under the EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) will apply to existing public DC charging infrastructure on the TEN-T network.

Paying for EV charging with and AFIR-compliant payment terminal

Relevantly, the AFIR requires all chargers with power capacities 50KW and above, along the TEN-T corridors & the so-called secure parking areas (close to highways), be equipped with payment terminals by 1 January 2027. The overarching aim of this is to make it easier for drivers to charge on an ad-hoc basis.

ABB E-mobility has been engaging with customers and policymakers across Europe to better understand what the practical implications of these requirements are. Based on these conversations, we have identified three key areas that CPOs in Europe should be considering now:

1. Compliance does not have to be complex

For many CPOs, the challenge is not understanding the requirement itself but implementing it across a diverse charging portfolio without disrupting ongoing operations.

The good news is that compliance will not necessarily require existing charging assets to be replaced. Depending on the existing equipment and site configuration, most payment solution functionalities can be added through a simple retrofit solution integrated within the charging infrastructure. It is important to ensure that solutions are compatible with established standards built for the EV charging industry such as OCPI & OCPP. This will allow CPOs to include these solutions in their portfolio in a future proof and standardized approach.

2. Compliance can also support business growth

The requirements outlined in the upcoming deadline present an opportunity to improve the charging experience and attract more drivers with the availability of user-friendly payment solutions.

Drivers increasingly expect charging to be as intuitive as any other retail transaction. Offering seamless payment options can help reduce barriers to charging, improve site accessibility, and strengthen confidence in public charging networks.

That's why many operators are looking for solutions that not only meet AFIR requirements today but also support future network expansion.

3. Now is the time to act

With the 1 January 2027 deadline approaching fast, CPOs should be evaluating their installed base to identify which sites will require upgrades.

Site assessments, technology selection, procurement activities, payment acquiring set-up, installations, testing and commissioning all require planning and coordination. As the deadline approaches, demand for compliant solutions and deployment resources is also likely to increase.

Starting now gives CPO’s more time to compare available options, coordinate deployment and reduce the risk of implementation pressure, and be better positioned to maintain uninterrupted service for drivers.

Supporting the Transition

AFIR represents another important step towards a more seamless charging experience across Europe. While regulatory compliance can appear complex, it also gives CPOs an opportunity to modernize infrastructure, improve the charging experience, and strengthen consumer confidence in public EV charging networks.

At ABB E-mobility, we're working closely with CPOs across Europe to achieve exactly that. To help simplify implementation, we offer a comprehensive payment solution which combines payment hardware terminals and services via a global partnership with Adyen. This solution, bridges the requirements of the payment industry (support industry-recognized PCI-DSS, P2PE, and EMV etc.) with standards used in the EV charging industry (OCPI 2.2.1) to offer a secure solution which seamlessly integrates with existing charging management platforms at one of the lowest payment processing costs.

In addition, our teams can support CPOs with installed-base assessments, retrofit planning, deployment and commissioning, as well as first-line support for terminals and payment transactions. By combining charging expertise with payment technology, we enable CPOs to take a practical, streamlined approach to achieving AFIR compliance while delivering a strong charging experience for drivers.