February brought a major milestone for EV charging interoperability with the release of OCPI 2.3—a protocol update specifically designed to meet AFIR’s upcoming data requirements. But here’s the catch: while the technical solution is ready, the regulatory timeline remains uncertain. The AFIR Implementing Act on Data is still awaiting Member State approval, and industry experts are questioning whether the April 14, 2025 deadline is realistic.
Meanwhile, the EU is putting its money where its mandates are. AFIF announced €422 million in new funding for fast-charging infrastructure along TEN-T corridors, including Europe’s first large-scale deployment of Megawatt Charging System (MCS) connectors for heavy-duty vehicles. And in France, an evaluation of the LOM law reveals that corporate fleets—which account for 66% of new vehicle registrations—are about to face stricter electrification requirements.
Here’s what changed in February and what it means for your operations.
Regulatory developments
OCPI 2.3 launches, but will AFIR’s April deadline hold?
On February 21, 2025, the EV Roaming Foundation released OCPI 2.3, the latest version of the Open Charge Point Interface protocol. This update was specifically developed to anticipate AFIR’s upcoming data requirements and also addresses North American tax structures and vehicle compatibility—making it the most globally applicable version of OCPI to date.
The timing is strategic. AFIR’s Implementing Act on Data is currently under written vote by EU Member States and, if approved, is expected to be published in the Official Journal in early March. However, the EU Commission has indicated it doesn’t expect changes to the draft text, which means CPOs can begin preparing now with confidence.
There’s an important nuance here: national representatives across the EU are aware of OCPI’s widespread adoption, but they cannot formally mandate its use because OCPI lacks CEN-CENELEC approval. OCPI 2.3 is therefore the de facto standard for AFIR compliance, even if it can’t be the de jure one.
What this means for network operators:
- OCPI 2.3 is now the industry benchmark for AFIR-compliant data exchange, even without a formal mandate
- Early March publication will make the April 14, 2025 deadline challenging for full implementation
- CPOs should prioritize upgrading to OCPI 2.3 now to avoid last-minute integration issues
- Hardware and software providers must coordinate closely—this isn’t just a back-end update
The expected publication timeline suggests that while the regulatory deadline is April 14, practical implementation may extend into Q2 2025 as Member States work through technical onboarding with CPOs.
RED III Article 20a transposition deadline approaches
As we covered in January’s update, RED III Article 20a mandates that vehicle manufacturers make real-time battery data—including State of Charge (SoC), State of Health (SoH), power set point, battery capacity, and vehicle location—available to EV owners, users, and third parties at no cost and on non-discriminatory terms.
What’s new this month is the implementation roadmap. The transposition deadline for Member States is May 21, 2025, and the European Commission has published a guidance document to help harmonize implementation across Europe. The guidance emphasizes the use of international standards—particularly ISO 15118—and recommends that data be made available either via the vehicle’s back-end server or through communication interfaces like PLC, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi.
Critically, the Commission also requires manufacturers to provide clear documentation on how third parties can retrieve this data, ensuring it’s accessible in a non-discriminatory and cost-free manner.
What this means for network operators:
- The May 21 transposition deadline means Member States must have national implementing laws in place—CPOs should monitor their home markets closely
- Automakers will be required to publish documentation on data access methods, giving CPOs a clear integration pathway
- Smart charging algorithms can now factor in real-time battery health data, not just SoC—enabling predictive maintenance, optimized charging curves, and enhanced V2G functionality
- This mandate levels the playing field: previously, only vertically integrated automaker-CPO partnerships had access to detailed battery telemetry. Now, all operators will have equal access to deliver premium charging experiences
France’s LOM evaluation puts fleet electrification under the microscope
France’s Loi d’Orientation des Mobilités (LOM) mandates that large fleets—including rental companies—gradually electrify their operations. An evaluation released in February reveals both progress and significant gaps.
The numbers:
- Corporate and rental fleets account for 66% of new vehicle registrations in France
- The planned 2025 reform is expected to add 2.4 million electric vehicles to the French market by 2035
- This would result in 37 million tons of CO₂ emissions reductions
The challenge:
While some fleet operators are progressing, many remain behind schedule. More concerning, there are lobbying efforts to secure exemptions for multinational rental companies—a move that would fundamentally undermine the law’s objectives.
What this means for network operators:
- The French fleet market represents massive demand for depot charging infrastructure
- Rental car companies will need high-utilization, fast-turnaround charging solutions
- B2B charging contracts for fleet operators will become a major revenue stream
- CPOs should prioritize sites near airports, city centers, and logistics hubs
If the 2025 reform proceeds without significant exemptions, France will become one of Europe’s most attractive markets for commercial charging infrastructure investment.
EU Clean Industrial Deal: €50B for clean mobility
The EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, published February 26, commits €50 billion through InvestEU and €570 million in additional AFIF funding via the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan—representing one of the largest single policy commitments to EV charging infrastructure to date. For the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the Commission aims to further strengthen EU-level funding, attract private investments, and enhance the effectiveness of State aid.
On the industry side, the Deal introduces low-carbon criteria for public procurement and prioritizes renewable energy solutions for corporate fleets in government contracts—creating new demand-side incentives alongside direct funding.
What this means for network operators:
This is a strong political signal that EV charging infrastructure is being treated as strategic industrial policy, not just environmental regulation. The combination of direct funding (AFIF), indirect support (InvestEU), and demand-side incentives (public procurement preferences) creates a multi-layered support ecosystem for charging deployment.
Funding and incentive updates
EU: €422M AFIF funding for fast-charging infrastructure
On February 6, the European Commission’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) announced a new €422 million funding round to expand fast-charging infrastructure along the TEN-T corridors. The funding will support around 2,500 fast-charging points for light-duty vehicles and roughly 2,400 for heavy-duty vehicles, alongside several projects deploying the Megawatt Charging System (MCS)—marking Europe’s first large-scale rollout of this technology.
This round reflects a clear shift in priorities. While earlier AFIF investments focused mainly on passenger vehicles, the strong emphasis on heavy-duty charging and MCS deployment highlights a growing commitment to decarbonizing freight transport across the EU.
Next funding deadline: June 11, 2025
CPOs should begin preparing applications now. The most competitive projects will demonstrate strategic placement along high-traffic TEN-T corridors, integration with renewable energy sources, technical readiness for MCS (for HDV projects), and strong financial and operational track records.
United States: NEVI suspended, but utility programs remain strong
Federal funding uncertainty:
The Trump Administration has moved to pause implementation of the $5 billion National EV Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program by suspending all state NEVI plans and rescinding prior guidance. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has indicated it will release new guidance this spring, requiring states to submit revised plans.
The legal reality:
While this may appear to threaten NEVI, Congress—not the Administration—holds the power to end the program. NEVI was created and funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which explicitly designates funds for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The Administration cannot legally redirect these funds to other uses.
In practice, this amounts to administrative delay rather than programmatic termination. This delay is expected to face significant pushback from lawmakers and local stakeholders who will advocate for swift resumption to support local jobs, economic growth, and infrastructure development.
Positive developments:
As of February 25, all obligated climate grants at EPA are unfrozen (except the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund), including Solar for All, the Clean School Bus Program, and Climate Pollution Reduction Grants.
What this means for network operators:
Don’t wait for federal clarity. Utility-managed charging programs continue to operate normally and offer more predictable timelines than federal programs. These programs are particularly strong for residential charging installations, Multi-Unit dwelling (MUD) deployments, and workplace charging initiatives.
AMPECO leadership and advocacy
Industry coalition urges EU to hold the line on vehicle emissions standards
On February 24, E-mobility Europe and ChargeUp Europe sent a letter to Commission President von der Leyen urging that the 2025 CO₂ targets remain unchanged—a position AMPECO actively contributed to. The signatories pushed back against automaker proposals for a “phase-in” mechanism or multi-year adjustment window, accepting only a strict two-year compliance period (2025-2026) and rejecting any broader dilution of targets. This joint letter ultimately strengthened the charging industry’s position ahead of the EU Automotive Industrial Action Plan, launched by the Commission on March 5.
The strategic significance of this advocacy goes beyond the immediate policy debate. CO₂ targets for automakers are the single strongest demand driver for EV charging infrastructure. Every percentage point of flexibility granted to manufacturers directly translates into slower EV adoption curves, lower charging utilization, and weaker infrastructure investment cases. When targets are weakened, charging utilization forecasts must be revised downward, affecting site-level economics. Infrastructure investment decisions are delayed as operators wait for clearer demand signals. Long-term revenue projections become less reliable, increasing the cost of capital. And grid integration planning loses precision, complicating partnerships with DSOs and utilities.
The charging industry’s unified position helped ensure that the March 5 Automotive Action Plan maintained ambition while providing limited flexibility—preserving the regulatory certainty that underpins billions of euros in infrastructure investment across Europe.
Technical Standards: Advocating for pragmatic AFIR implementation
AMPECO, along with CharIN, ChargeUp Europe, and E-mobility Europe, co-signed a letter addressing common standards and data provision under the draft AFIR Delegated and Implementing Acts.
While supporting the EU’s push for road transport electrification, the letter highlighted areas needing clearer policies to boost consumer confidence, product planning, and investment.
Key industry requests:
- Delay ISO 15118-20 implementation by up to 18 months to allow ongoing standardization efforts to complete
- Let consumers decide whether to adopt ISO 15118-20 for Mode 3 private chargers (rather than mandating it)
- Remove the requirement for CPOs to list MSPs offering contract-based recharging—this adds operational complexity without clear consumer benefit
- Consult industry stakeholders before mandating DATEX II as the standard data format, given broader market support for OCPI
AMPECO’s perspective:
These recommendations aren’t about resisting standards—they’re about ensuring standards are technically mature and market-ready before mandating them. Premature standardization mandates can lock in suboptimal technologies and create unnecessary costs for operators and consumers.
The industry is asking for regulatory timelines that match technical reality, not aspirational targets disconnected from implementation capacity.
Key dates for Q2 2025
- Early March 2025: Expected publication of AFIR Implementing Act on Data
- March 5, 2025: EU Automotive Industrial Action Plan launch (completed)
- April 14, 2025: AFIR data reporting compliance deadline (likely to be extended)
- May 21, 2025: RED III Article 20a transposition deadline for Member States
- June 11, 2025: Next AFIF funding application cut-off
The bottom line
February demonstrated that while regulatory frameworks are advancing, implementation timelines remain fluid. The release of OCPI 2.3 is a positive step, but the April 14 AFIR deadline looks increasingly unrealistic. Smart operators will implement now rather than waiting for regulatory clarity.
The €422 million AFIF award shows that EU funding is accelerating, not slowing—and the inclusion of MCS-enabled HDV infrastructure signals that the heavy-duty transition is beginning in earnest. Meanwhile, France’s fleet electrification mandate and the Clean Industrial Deal’s €50 billion commitment confirm that the policy environment remains strongly supportive of infrastructure investment.
In the U.S., federal uncertainty is real but shouldn’t paralyze deployment. State and utility programs offer more reliable pathways to funding, and the legal protections around NEVI mean the program will likely survive political headwinds.
Need help navigating AFIR compliance and OCPI 2.3 implementation? AMPECO’s regulatory intelligence team provides tailored guidance for CPOs operating across global markets.
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