May brought a tale of two regulatory trajectories. In the UK, the government eliminated planning application requirements for most EV charger installations starting May 29 — a reform expected to save drivers up to £1,100 annually and accelerate deployment across residential, commercial, and public sites. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee advanced budget reconciliation provisions that would fully repeal federal EV and EV charging tax credits, threatening to dismantle the financial foundation that has driven billions in private infrastructure investment since the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022.
The contrast is stark: while the UK is removing barriers and reducing costs, the U.S. is debating whether to eliminate the very incentives that we’ve been tracking since January and advocated to protect on Capitol Hill in April. In Europe, the Commission is quietly building the heavy-duty charging framework through Sustainable Transport Forum task forces, while also unlocking new regional funding through Cohesion Fund amendments.
Here’s what CPOs need to know about May’s policy developments and how to navigate the diverging regulatory landscape.
Regulatory developments
UK eliminates planning requirements for most EV charger installations
As of May 29, 2025, the UK government has fundamentally streamlined the process for installing EV chargepoints. Homeowners, businesses, and local authorities no longer need to submit planning applications for most installations, reducing both costs and deployment timelines. Residential installations can now proceed without planning permission, eliminating weeks or months of approval processes. Commercial sites can deploy workplace and public charging infrastructure without navigating complex local planning frameworks. And local councils can accelerate on-street and public charging rollouts without bureaucratic delays.
The economic impact is significant. The reform is expected to help drivers save up to £1,100 annually by facilitating easier access to home charging — the most cost-effective option for most EV owners. The UK already has nearly 80,000 public chargepoints in place, with one new chargepoint installed every 29 minutes, and the government continues to offer a £350 grant for eligible households to assist with home charger installations.
What this means for operators:
- The planning reform eliminates a major cost and time barrier, particularly for residential charging companies deploying at scale, workplace charging providers serving corporate clients, on-street operators working with local councils, and destination charging at retail and hospitality sites
- Project lead times should decrease significantly, reducing capital lock-in periods and improving return on investment timelines
- This is one of the most operator-friendly regulatory changes in recent European history — CPOs should accelerate deployment plans to capitalise on the streamlined process
US federal EV policy faces serious headwinds as House advances tax credit repeal
Earlier in May, the House Ways & Means Committee advanced its section of the budget reconciliation bill, proposing full repeal of federal EV and EV charging tax credits. Simultaneously, the Energy & Commerce Committee passed provisions that would dramatically scale back funding for electrification programmes and revoke key emissions and fuel economy standards currently enforced by the EPA and NHTSA.
As we detailed in April’s Capitol Hill coverage, the 30C tax credit covering 30% of eligible project costs up to $100,000 per charger and the 30D credit offering up to $7,500 per new EV are foundational financial levers for the US charging ecosystem. The May committee votes move these programmes one step closer to repeal, though the reconciliation bill must still pass both chambers of Congress and survive potential legal challenges.
The proposals threaten to unwind the significant progress made since the IRA’s passage — a surge of private investment in EV manufacturing and charging infrastructure, tens of thousands of American jobs in the clean energy sector, strengthened national security through reduced oil dependence, and expanded critical mineral supply chains. AMPECO continues to engage via industry organisations with lawmakers to emphasise that transportation electrification is not just a climate issue — it’s an economic and strategic one.
What this means for operators:
- The reconciliation bill is not yet law, but the committee votes create immediate investment uncertainty — project financing becomes more difficult and M&A activity slows as asset valuations become unclear
- Operators should prioritise state and utility incentive programmes that are insulated from federal policy shifts, and focus deployments in high-utilisation markets that can sustain operations without subsidies
- Coalition advocacy through industry associations remains essential to demonstrate the economic impact of existing programmes
- Operators with projects dependent on 30C availability should develop contingency plans for scenarios where the credit is repealed
EU advances heavy-duty vehicle charging framework through Sustainable Transport Forum
The European Commission is developing the technical framework for heavy-duty vehicle charging under the Sustainable Transport Forum umbrella, working through several dedicated task forces. TF1 on recharging standards is guiding the transition from CCS to MCS connectors, including deployment timing and coexistence management. TF3 on use cases and charging requirements is identifying distinct HDV charging patterns — depot charging for overnight fleet operations, en-route corridor charging for long-haul operations, and opportunity charging at logistics hubs — to support fit-for-purpose infrastructure planning. TF4 on infrastructure availability and grid capacity aims to improve transparency around existing charging sites, rollout plans, and grid integration strategies. And TF5 on deployment bottlenecks is tackling permitting delays, grid connection issues, and funding gaps.
While this is a methodical approach, the Commission’s work is expected to feed into the Clean Transport Corridors proposal later in 2025, which will likely establish minimum HDV charging requirements along TEN-T corridors and new technical standards for MCS deployment.
What this means for operators:
- CPOs planning HDV infrastructure should monitor the task force outputs closely — the Clean Transport Corridors proposal will set the regulatory parameters for heavy-duty charging investment across the EU
- The distinction between depot, en-route, and opportunity charging use cases signals that the Commission recognises these require different power levels, site designs, and business models
- Grid coordination remains a central challenge — operators should engage proactively with DSOs to secure grid capacity for high-power HDV sites
Funding and incentive updates
Final reminder for the AFIF June 11 deadline
The next AFIF cut-off deadline is June 11, 2025 — just weeks away. CPOs who haven’t yet applied should finalise applications immediately. AMPECO recently hosted a webinar featuring EU Commission representatives and leading practitioners, covering application best practices from successful previous rounds and technical compliance requirements. AFIF remains one of the largest sources of non-dilutive capital for European charging infrastructure.
EU Cohesion Funds gain a new charging infrastructure priority
The European Commission has proposed targeted amendments to the Cohesion and ERDF regulation as part of its 2025 Mid-Term Review, better aligning regional funding with EU energy goals and EV charging infrastructure priorities. A key amendment to Article 3 explicitly adds “deployment of recharging infrastructure” as a formal policy objective, upgrading its role from merely an output indicator to a strategic priority.
The incentive structure is meaningful: countries reallocating 15% or more of their programme resources to EV charging by 2026 will receive a 4.5% pre-financing bonus providing immediate cash flow improvement and an extended eligibility period by one year. The proposal is currently under review by the EU Parliament and Council, and if adopted, could unlock significant additional EU financial support.
What this means for operators:
- This creates a new funding pathway beyond AFIF, particularly valuable for regional and municipal charging projects in less-developed areas, rural infrastructure that struggles to attract private investment, and projects integrated with broader regional development initiatives
- CPOs should engage with regional development agencies and local authorities to identify opportunities under this framework once it’s finalised
US utility programmes remain the steadiest funding source
State and utility incentive programmes continue operating normally and offer the most reliable funding timelines for US operators. AMPECO remains listed as an eligible network provider across CALeVIP, NYSERDA Charge Ready 2.0, and EPRI’s Vetted Product List covering 20+ utility programs.
AMPECO leadership and advocacy
Contributing to the EU Commission’s review of light-duty vehicle CO₂ standards
AMPECO participated in a stakeholder interview with the European Commission as part of the ongoing review of CO₂ emission standards for light-duty vehicles, representing the EV charging sector on behalf of ChargeUp Europe.
Our contributions focused on four areas. First, reinforcing regulatory integrity — the EU CO₂ standards are the single most important driver of investor confidence in EV charging infrastructure, and a clear regulatory trajectory for vehicle decarbonisation ensures continued growth in charging demand and enables long-term planning. Second, raising concerns over loopholes in eco-innovation credits, which may allow automakers to undermine CO₂ targets by several grams per kilometre per vehicle. Third, advocating for smart use of excess emissions premiums by channelling these penalties into a dedicated EV development fund that creates a virtuous cycle where non-compliance funds accelerate compliance. And fourth, emphasising the economic value of smart charging infrastructure and its contribution to energy system resilience and EU revenue generation through grid stabilisation, renewable energy integration, and distributed flexibility services.
AMPECO continues to engage with EU institutions to ensure that climate regulations are both ambitious and aligned with the realities of EV charging infrastructure deployment and innovation.
Key dates and deadlines
- June 11, 2025: AFIF funding application deadline (imminent)
- June 28, 2025: European Accessibility Act takes effect
- August 5 – October 5, 2025: CALeVIP application window
- Late 2025: Expected publication of Clean Transport Corridors proposal
- 2026: Countries must reallocate ≥15% of Cohesion Fund resources to qualify for bonuses
- April 14, 2026: DATEX II data format compliance deadline
The bottom line
May’s policy divergence across markets underscores the need for geography-specific strategies rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. UK operators should accelerate deployment plans to capitalise on planning reform while the momentum is fresh. US operators should prioritise state and utility programmes for near-term projects while maintaining flexible pipelines that can adapt to changing federal policy. And EU operators should submit AFIF applications before June 11, monitor HDV task force outputs, and engage regional development agencies on Cohesion Fund opportunities.
The regulatory landscape is fragmenting, but for operators with the right market intelligence, each fragment represents an opportunity.
Need help navigating market-specific regulatory requirements and funding opportunities? AMPECO’s regulatory intelligence team provides tailored guidance for CPOs operating across global markets.
Schedule a consultation →
Track funding opportunities across 15+ markets: Discover the most comprehensive collection of EV charging grants, incentives, tax credits, and rebate programs—exclusively curated by AMPECO’s policy experts.
Access the incentive tracker →
