EU Automotive Action Plan and ViDA package reshape EV charging policy

March 2025 delivered the policy framework that will define European EV charging through the end of the decade. The EU Automotive Industrial Action Plan, released on March 5, confirmed a three-year extension for automakers to meet CO₂ targets while committing €1.8 billion to EU battery manufacturing and proposing mandatory corporate fleet electrification. Just days later, the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package was adopted, fundamentally simplifying cross-border VAT compliance for EV charging operators starting in 2027.

Meanwhile, Portugal eliminated the mandatory connection to the Mobi.E platform—one of Europe’s most significant market liberalization moves—and Poland opened PLN 2 billion in funding for heavy-duty charging infrastructure. California introduced new demand flexibility standards that signal where grid integration is headed, while the European Accessibility Act’s June 28 deadline is forcing operators to rethink hardware and software design.

Here’s what changed and what you need to act on.

Regulatory developments

EU Automotive Action Plan brings a three-year CO₂ extension with fleet electrification mandate

The European Commission’s Industrial Action Plan for the European Automotive Sector, released March 5, attempts to balance industry concerns with climate ambition. The result is a mixed bag for charging infrastructure operators.

The plan allocates €1.8 billion over the next two years to support EU-based battery production, reducing import dependence and strengthening domestic EV supply chains. On CO₂ compliance, automakers now have from 2025 to 2027 to meet targets requiring at least 20% EV sales—a three-year window instead of the original one-year compliance period. A new network code on demand response, scheduled for Q1 2026, will enhance grid flexibility by supporting bidirectional EV charging and V2G integration. And critically, the Commission plans to propose legislation by end of 2025 mandating zero-emission vehicle adoption for large corporate fleets.

What this means for network operators:

• The CO₂ extension is a double-edged sword—it gives automakers breathing room but slows the EV adoption curve compared to original projections, directly affecting the demand signals we flagged in February’s analysis
• The corporate fleet mandate is a game-changer: corporate fleets account for approximately 60% of new car registrations in the EU, and proposed measures including ending tax breaks for fossil fuel company cars and requiring large companies to transition to electric could guarantee demand for over 2 million electric cars by 2030
• For CPOs, depot charging and workplace infrastructure become priority revenue streams—fleet operators need reliable, high-utilization charging with minimal downtime, a very different user profile than consumer charging

ViDA package adopted and cross-border VAT gets simpler starting 2027

On March 11, 2025, the EU adopted the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package, modernizing the EU’s VAT system and directly addressing one of the biggest compliance headaches for multi-market CPOs.

The package introduces three major changes. First, e-invoicing will become mandatory through real-time digital reporting, expected to reduce VAT fraud by up to €11 billion annually and lower compliance costs by over €4.1 billion per year over the next decade. Second, the Union One Stop Shop (OSS) model will now cover all B2C supplies, including domestic transactions, allowing businesses to fulfill VAT obligations through a single online portal instead of registering in each Member State. Third, for non-established suppliers, a reverse charge mechanism shifts VAT liability to business customers when suppliers aren’t VAT-registered locally.

What this means for operators:

Implementation phase	Date	What changes
EV charging cross-border VAT	January 2027	B2C electricity supplies (including EV charging) fall under Union OSS
Single VAT registration	July 2028	One registration covers all EU Member States
Digital reporting and e-invoicing	July 2030	Full e-invoicing mandate across EU

After January 2027, CPOs serving multiple EU markets can declare and pay VAT through a single Member State rather than maintaining separate registrations everywhere they operate. Operators should start now by reviewing their current VAT structure with tax advisors, identifying which Member State will serve as their OSS registration point, ensuring billing systems can generate compliant e-invoices, and mapping out the transition from their current multi-registration setup to OSS.

Portugal’s Mobi.E liberalization opens the market but political uncertainty remains

On March 3, 2025, the Portuguese government approved a major reform eliminating the requirement for EV charging operators to connect to a single platform—one of the most significant market liberalization moves in European EV charging.

The reform reshapes the Portuguese market in several important ways. While Mobi.E remains available, it’s no longer mandatory, allowing CPOs to operate independently. Electronic payments via QR codes and bank cards are now required, with chargers over 50 kW mandated to support card payments—going beyond AFIR’s requirements. Clear, upfront pricing must be displayed across all public charging networks. Public tenders for concessioned areas will open the market to new entrants. And the reform explicitly enables bidirectional charging and solar self-consumption.

There’s a political complication, however. Portugal’s center-right government lost a confidence vote on March 12, 2025, with elections scheduled for May. The consultation process is ongoing, and the next government could modify or delay elements of the reform.

What this means for operators:

• If the reform survives the political transition, Portugal becomes one of Europe’s most open and competitive charging markets
• The requirement for all chargers over 50 kW to support card payments creates a hardware compliance obligation that may require retrofitting existing infrastructure
• CPOs should monitor the May election results closely and be prepared to move quickly if the reform is confirmed

European Accessibility Act deadline approaches on June 28

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) takes effect June 28, 2025, creating new obligations for both physical charging infrastructure and digital services. While EV charging stations aren’t explicitly mentioned in the EAA, they fall under its accessibility requirements. Payment terminals, screens, control buttons, cable management, and parking space design must meet accessibility standards on the hardware side, while mobile applications and charge point management systems must follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) on the digital side.

What this means for operators:

• AMPECO has already integrated WCAG standards into its platform, anticipating this regulatory shift
• Hardware compliance is more complex—payment terminals must be operable by users with limited mobility and vision, screen height and contrast must meet minimum standards, physical controls must be reachable without fine motor skills, and audio feedback may be required for visually impaired users
• Accessibility regulations are evolving worldwide—the U.S., Canada, UK, and Australia all have similar requirements in development, so early compliance creates competitive differentiation rather than just checking a regulatory box
• Operators should audit existing infrastructure now and ensure all new installations are accessibility-compliant from deployment

California’s demand flexibility standards preview the future of grid integration

Starting September 29, 2025, new California standards will require flexible demand appliances—beginning with pool controls—to shift energy usage to cheaper and cleaner periods. While this doesn’t directly affect EV charging yet, it signals where California’s grid integration policy is headed.

Equipment must meet certification standards such as OpenADR 2.0b, IEEE 2030.5, or CTA-2045, allowing utilities or aggregators to manage energy use during peak demand. The goal is to avoid 4-9 PM peak usage and maximize 9 AM-3 PM solar utilization, targeting 7,000 MW of flexible electricity capacity by 2033.

What this means for operators:

• Pool controls are just the beginning—the California Energy Commission’s authority under Senate Bill 49 will likely extend similar requirements to EV charging equipment
• Forward-looking CPOs should already be implementing smart charging capabilities aligned with these certification standards, load management that responds to grid signals, and time-of-use pricing that incentivizes off-peak charging
• Operators who build this functionality now will have a significant advantage when California extends these mandates to EV charging—likely within the next 12-24 months

Funding and incentive updates

Poland opens PLN 2 billion for heavy-duty charging infrastructure

On March 31, 2025, Poland opened applications for one of Europe’s most generous heavy-duty charging programs. The total programme budget is PLN 2 billion (approximately €465 million), with the initial call worth PLN 1 billion (approximately €232 million). Funding covers up to 100% of eligible investment costs, or up to 85% for project finance structures. Eligible locations include TEN-T core network corridors (within 3 km), logistics centers, depots, and intermodal terminals, with all infrastructure required to provide public access for zero-emission trucks.

What this means for operators:

• 100% cost coverage eliminates upfront capital requirements, making this one of the most operator-friendly funding programs in Europe
• The focus on strategic locations—TEN-T corridors and logistics hubs—ensures high utilization potential
• The public access requirement creates long-term revenue potential beyond anchor tenants
• Poland is positioning itself as a central European logistics hub, and this program is designed to ensure charging infrastructure is in place before heavy-duty EV adoption accelerates

United States program recognitions expand AMPECO’s funding eligibility

While federal NEVI funding remains frozen, state and utility programs continue operating normally. In March, AMPECO achieved three major program recognitions that expand access to funding for operators using the platform.

In California, the CALeVIP program has $55 million available for high-power DC fast charger installations, with the application window opening August 5 through October 5, 2025. In New York, NYSERDA’s Charge Ready NY 2.0 program still has $5.99 million available of its $12 million total budget as of March 2025, offering Level 2 EV charging station incentives across the state through December 31, 2025. And nationally, AMPECO has been approved on EPRI’s Vetted Product List across 20+ utility programs—including Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, Portland General Electric, Georgia Power, Salt River Project, and others—based on the platform’s uptime and downtime tracking capabilities in session and energy reports.

What this means for operators:

• State and utility programs offer more predictable funding timelines than federal programs and are insulated from political volatility
• EPRI recognition alone provides access to nearly $2 billion in public incentives across utility territories
• Operators should prioritize applications for these programs while federal uncertainty continues

[Access AMPECO’s complete incentive tracker →]

AMPECO leadership and advocacy

Capitol Hill engagement to protect federal EV charging investments

AMPECO is participating in an upcoming Capitol Hill fly-in coordinated with industry associations, meeting with House and Senate representatives and committee staff. The focus is on protecting NEVI funding from administrative delays, preserving the 30C tax credit for charging infrastructure and the 30D consumer EV tax credit, and ensuring CFI grant program continuity. This direct engagement ensures that the charging infrastructure industry’s perspective is represented in federal budget discussions.

Contributing to Cyber Resilience Act smart meter gateway standards

The Cyber Resilience Act mandates the European Commission to define technical specifications for critical digital products, including smart meter gateways. AMPECO is participating in the public consultation, open until April 15, 2025, addressing cybersecurity requirements for these devices.

Smart meter gateways are foundational infrastructure for grid-integrated EV charging, and the cybersecurity standards being developed will likely extend to other smart metering systems and eventually to charging infrastructure itself. AMPECO’s input emphasizes proportionality in security requirements based on risk profiles, interoperability between security frameworks, and avoiding overly prescriptive technical mandates that could lock in suboptimal solutions.

Smart Energy Expert Group contributions on consumer empowerment

AMPECO is contributing to the Smart Energy Expert Group’s work on consumer empowerment through the Electricity Market Design (EMD) amendment, providing use cases in three critical areas. Under Article 4 of the Electricity Directive, the multiple supplier model would enable EV drivers to contract with multiple electricity suppliers simultaneously, optimizing energy sourcing across renewable energy producers and dynamic pricing offers. Article 7b of the Electricity Regulation addresses demand response mechanisms, leveraging real-time consumption monitoring, time-of-use pricing, and automated load management to enhance grid stability and reduce charging costs. And Article 15a of the Electricity Directive covers energy sharing and collective self-consumption, supporting local renewable energy generation and storage that allows EV owners and charging networks to participate in energy-sharing frameworks.

These frameworks will define how EV charging integrates with emerging energy market structures—V2G, virtual power plants, community energy projects, and dynamic grid services. AMPECO’s technical input ensures that policy frameworks are built on realistic implementation capabilities rather than theoretical concepts.

Key dates and deadlines for Q2 2025

• April 15, 2025: Cyber Resilience Act public consultation closes
• May 2025: Portugal general election (Mobi.E reform timeline depends on outcome)
• June 11, 2025: AFIF funding application deadline
• June 28, 2025: European Accessibility Act takes effect

What CPOs should do next

March’s policy developments create clear action items. Operators should audit accessibility compliance ahead of the June 28 EAA deadline, review their VAT structure with advisors to prepare for the 2027 OSS transition, apply for Poland’s HDV funding if operating in Central Europe, and monitor Portugal’s election to prepare for potential market entry.

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