July delivered one of the most consequential funding signals in the history of European EV charging. The European Commission proposed doubling the Connecting Europe Facility – Transport budget to €51.5 billion for 2028–2034, alongside a €409 billion European Competitiveness Fund with significant clean technology allocations. If these proposals survive Parliament and Council negotiations, they will create an unprecedented funding landscape for charging infrastructure deployment across the continent.
But funding commitments mean little without regulatory certainty, and Germany is threatening to undermine exactly that. A coalition of 19 industry associations issued a joint statement warning that Germany’s delayed transposition of RED III — with a cabinet decision unlikely before October and parliamentary reading not expected until December — makes a January 2026 entry into force highly improbable. The delays jeopardise investment in smart charging, V2G services, and the THG quota framework that underpins transport emissions reduction.
Across the Atlantic, the legal landscape shifted decisively in favour of EV infrastructure. A US District Court ruled that the Department of Transportation exceeded its authority in freezing NEVI funds, unlocking access for 14 states — and the agencies declined to appeal. Meanwhile, the UK committed £2 billion through DRIVE35 and Wallonia launched what may be Europe’s largest municipal charging concession.
Here’s what changed in July and what it means for your operations.
Regulatory developments
EU proposes doubling transport funding to €51.5 billion for 2028–2034
On July 16, the European Commission presented its proposal for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, introducing the most significant increase in transport funding in EU history. The Connecting Europe Facility – Transport envelope would double from €25.8 billion to €51.5 billion, with €17.65 billion earmarked for military mobility targeting dual-use infrastructure. The remaining budget is expected to support sustainable and smart transport networks, deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure including cross-border EV charging, and completion of the TEN-T core network with a focus on decarbonisation and digitalisation.
Alongside the MFF, the Commission proposed a €409 billion European Competitiveness Fund consolidating EU funding into streamlined policy pillars. Key allocations include €67.4 billion for clean transition and industrial decarbonisation, €175 billion for Horizon Europe, and €41 billion for the Innovation Fund targeting market deployment of low-carbon technologies. Final figures remain subject to negotiations with the European Parliament and Council.
What this means for operators:
- The proposed CEF-Transport doubling signals that EU-level infrastructure funding will expand significantly beyond the current AFIF framework — CPOs should begin positioning for the next generation of funding programmes
- The €67.4 billion clean transition allocation within the Competitiveness Fund could create new pathways for charging infrastructure investment beyond traditional transport budgets
- These are proposals, not commitments — the Parliament and Council negotiation process will determine final figures, but the political direction is clearly toward increased investment
- Operators should engage with national and regional authorities now to ensure EV charging is prioritised in upcoming CEF Work Programmes
Germany’s RED III delays threaten regulatory certainty for smart charging and V2G
A coalition of 19 industry associations, including Bundesverband THG Quote e.V., has issued a joint statement expressing serious concern over delays in Germany’s national transposition of RED III, particularly in the transport sector. The current legislative timeline — a cabinet decision no earlier than October 2025 and a first parliamentary reading in December — makes entry into force by January 2026 highly unlikely.
The delayed transposition jeopardises regulatory certainty for investments in climate-compatible fuels, charging infrastructure, and related innovations. It also weakens the THG quota framework, a central market-based instrument for reducing transport emissions. The coalition is urging the German government to advance the legislative timeline to ensure completion within 2025, adopt the revised Federal Emissions Control Act before year-end, and establish binding THG quota trajectories from 2026 onward.
Adding to the urgency, on July 25 the European Commission published its implementation notice for RED III Article 20a(3) — the battery data-sharing provision we’ve been tracking since January that requires real-time, cost-free sharing of EV battery data with users and authorised third parties, covering state of charge, battery health, and location.
What this means for operators:
- Germany is the EU’s largest EV market — regulatory delays there create ripple effects across the European charging ecosystem, particularly for operators with cross-border operations relying on harmonised frameworks
- The THG quota framework is a revenue stream for many CPOs — its weakening through delayed transposition could affect business cases for public charging infrastructure in Germany
- V2G and smart charging deployments that depend on RED III’s data-sharing provisions will face implementation uncertainty until Germany completes transposition
- Operators active in Germany should factor these delays into investment planning and monitor the legislative timeline closely
Belgium reviews home charging reimbursement models
The Belgian federal government is evaluating options for standardising home EV charging reimbursement, amid growing concerns over the difficulty of determining the actual cost of home charging. Variability in dynamic tariffs, the capacity tariff system, and integration with solar PV all complicate precise cost calculation.
Four models are under discussion. The fixed kWh tariff is the most widely applied method today, reimbursing employees at a standard rate based on the CREG benchmark. Actual tariff reimbursement is more precise, basing compensation on the employee’s real electricity costs under their individual energy contract, though it limits solar self-consumption benefits and increases administrative complexity. Under the employer energy contract model, the employer directly assumes charging costs by setting up a dedicated contract for the home charge point, reducing employee burden but requiring a separate digital meter. And the mobility budget approach integrates reimbursement into broader per-kilometre compensation, avoiding kWh tracking altogether while supporting smart charging and V2H applications — widely viewed as the most administratively future-proof option.
Ongoing stakeholder consultations are expected to clarify which models may be formalised in fiscal and employment law frameworks by 2026.
What this means for operators:
- The outcome will shape how Belgian employers structure home charging benefits, directly affecting demand for residential charging infrastructure and smart charging solutions
- The mobility budget model, if adopted, could reduce demand for granular metering at home chargers but increase demand for intelligent charging management that optimises energy use
- CPMS providers should monitor these consultations as the chosen model will influence product requirements for the Belgian market
Funding and incentive updates
Wallonia launches 12-year EV charging concession across multiple municipalities
On July 15, the intercommunal agency IDETA published a joint service concession for the installation, maintenance, and operation of 1,724 EV charging stations across multiple Walloon municipalities. The concession runs for 12 years with no renewal option under Directive 2014/23/EU, and involves IDETA coordinating with seven regional development agencies covering Liège, Namur, Hainaut, Brabant Wallon, and others.
The obligations are comprehensive: full lifecycle management including back-office integration, live user interface, remote diagnostics, periodic maintenance, and even graffiti removal. Real-time user information must be provided via an online platform covering availability, pricing, connector types, and energy usage. Half the chargers per municipality must be operational within 365 days, with the remainder within 730 days, and penalties apply for delays.
What this means for operators:
- This is one of Europe’s largest municipal charging concessions — the 12-year term with full lifecycle responsibility represents a significant long-term revenue opportunity but requires substantial operational commitment
- The tight deployment timelines and penalty structure mean only operators with proven deployment capabilities and strong local partnerships should consider bidding
- Submission deadline is September 29, 2025
UK announces comprehensive EV support package through DRIVE35
The UK government announced a major support package across three pillars. The DRIVE35 Industrial Fund allocates £2 billion through 2030, with an additional £500 million in R&D through 2035, targeting gigafactory development, early-stage EV startups, and next-generation electric vehicle technologies. On charging infrastructure specifically, £63 million is directed toward depot charging (£30 million with up to 75% of eligible costs covered), residential on-street solutions (£25 million), and NHS fleet electrification (£8 million). This complements the existing £381 million LEVI Fund expected to deliver over 100,000 new public charge points. A revised Electric Car Grant of £650–£700 million will provide up to £3,750 toward EVs priced at or below £37,000, with eligibility prioritising UK-assembled vehicles meeting carbon and supply chain sustainability standards through FY2028/29.
What this means for operators:
- The depot charging funding with 75% cost coverage is particularly attractive, though grid connection costs are excluded — operators should factor this into project economics
- The LEVI Fund’s 100,000+ charge point target creates substantial deployment opportunity for operators working with local authorities
- The Electric Car Grant’s focus on affordably priced, UK-assembled vehicles will drive adoption in the mainstream market, increasing demand for public and residential charging
Court ruling unlocks NEVI funds for 14 US states
On June 24, the US District Court for the Western District of Washington issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration from suspending state access to NEVI Formula Program funds. The ruling followed a lawsuit by 14 states — Washington, California, Colorado, Wisconsin, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island — challenging the agencies’ February decision to freeze NEVI funding and revoke approved state deployment plans.
The court found that DOT and FHWA likely acted beyond their statutory authority under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, implemented Executive Order 14143 without legislative basis, and operated in an arbitrary and capricious manner. The decision reaffirms states’ lead role in EV infrastructure deployment under the IIJA. Critically, DOT and FHWA declined to appeal the injunction as of July 3, restoring policy certainty and unlocking implementation momentum in key EV markets.
What this means for operators:
- The 14 plaintiff states — which include the largest US EV markets — can now access unobligated NEVI funds and proceed with charging infrastructure projects
- The agencies’ decision not to appeal provides stronger certainty than a preliminary injunction alone — operators in these states should re-engage with state DOTs on project timelines
- This ruling reinforces congressional intent for a state-driven EV charging network and limits executive branch authority to freeze legislatively appropriated funds
- Operators in non-plaintiff states should monitor whether the ruling’s precedent extends to their jurisdictions
Key dates and deadlines
- August 1, 2025: Radio Equipment Directive obligations take effect for internet-connected EVSE
- August 5 – October 29, 2025: CALeVIP application window
- September 29, 2025: Wallonia concession submission deadline
- January 8, 2026: ISO 15118-2 compliance required for newly installed public chargers
- January 1, 2026: California reliability mandates take effect
- April 14, 2026: DATEX II reporting deadline
- January 1, 2027: ISO 15118-20 compliance required for new public and private chargers
Need help navigating EU funding opportunities, NEVI compliance, or market-specific regulatory requirements?
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