CCV: AFIR 2027 - Is Your EV Charging Network Ready for the 1st of January Deadline?

For Charge Point Operators (CPOs), 1st of January 2027 Is an Important Date to Have on the Radar

The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) has applied across the European Union since 13 April 2024. Its aim includes making public EV charging easier and more transparent for drivers. Now, another important milestone is approaching: payment requirements will also apply to certain charging points installed before AFIR became applicable.

For CPOs operating existing infrastructure, preparing for 1 January 2027 starts now.

What Changes on 1 January 2027?

Under Article 5 of AFIR, from 1 January 2027, publicly accessible recharging points with a power output of 50 kW or more, located along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) or at a public safe and secure parking area, must meet specific electronic payment requirements. This includes relevant charging points deployed before 13 April 2024.

At these locations, operators must enable electronic payment using either:

• a payment card reader, or
• a device with contactless functionality that can at least read payment cards.

There is an important detail for CPOs planning their retrofit strategy: AFIR allows a single payment terminal to serve multiple publicly accessible charging points within a recharging pool. This makes a centralised kiosk solution an interesting option, where one payment terminal can facilitate payment for multiple charging points instead of requiring a separate terminal at each charger.

This opens up different ways to approach compliance, depending on the charging location, existing hardware and backend architecture.

Why CPOs Should Prepare for AFIR 2027 Now

1st of January 2027 may still sound some way off. For large charging networks, however, upgrading payment infrastructure is more than a hardware exercise.

CPOs need to identify which existing locations fall within the scope of the requirement, determine the right payment setup and consider how new terminals will communicate with chargers and backend systems.

Payment, charging sessions and backend systems need to work together reliably. A scalable integration can help CPOs roll out payment functionality across multiple locations while keeping operational complexity manageable.

This is where an established ecosystem can make a difference. CCV from Fiserv works with a broad network of partners across the EV charging industry, bringing payment expertise together with charging hardware, software and infrastructure providers. This collaborative approach helps CPOs integrate payment into the wider charging ecosystem instead of treating it as a standalone component.

The goal should therefore go beyond simply adding a card reader. It is an opportunity to build a payment architecture that is ready for both regulation and future growth.

Choosing the Right Payment Setup for EV Charging

Different charging environments call for different approaches.

At CCV, our payment portfolio for EV charging includes solutions designed for unattended environments. The CCV IM15 & IM25 series, for example, combine a compact design with contactless payments and PIN-entry capability. The 3-in-1 device CCV Edge IM30 offers next to its card readers an Android-based platform for more advanced and customisable use cases.

Integration matters just as much as the terminal itself. CCV's Cloud-Connect solution uses the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) to enable cloud-based communication between CCV IM series payment terminals and the CPMS backend. This can simplify integration and help reduce setup time.

For existing charging networks approaching the 1st of January 2027 AFIR milestone, this creates options to find a payment setup that fits the charging environment rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

AFIR Compliance Can Also Improve the Charging Experience

Regulation is one reason to rethink payment. The driver experience is another.

EV drivers arriving at a public charging point should be able to understand how to pay and start charging without unnecessary friction. Open-loop card payments give ad-hoc users a familiar payment method without requiring them to first enter into a contract with a mobility service provider.

For CPOs, the coming deadline is therefore an opportunity to look beyond compliance and consider the complete charging and payment journey.

Start Preparing for 1st of January 2027

Do you need to upgrade existing charging infrastructure or want to explore how payment terminals can connect with your charging and backend environment?

Get in touch with the CCV team. Together, we can explore a payment setup that fits your charging infrastructure, integration requirements and plans for the future.

About CCV

CCV is an international payment solutions provider that services over 600,000 businesses with end-to-end payment solutions in Europe. Our extensive portfolio includes a processing and settlement platform, online and closed-loop payments, acquiring services, and a wide range of in-store and unattended payment terminals. CCV’s focused partnership strategy, as well as direct SME offerings, enabled us to take leading positions in all home markets: the Netherlands (HQ), Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland. Our success is based on innovation and a long-term customer-focused commitment via partnerships and SME businesses.