October brought long-awaited confirmations alongside new market signals. The European Commission’s DG TAXUD directly confirmed to AMPECO that the ViDA package’s Union One-Stop Shop will apply to EV charging from January 2027 — resolving any remaining ambiguity about the cross-border VAT simplification we first covered in March and received initial confirmation on in June. Germany published its Masterplan Charging Infrastructure 2030, a document that signals positive intent on permitting and grid access but raises concerns about AFIR blocking fee rigidity and potential market distortion from state-funded truck charging networks.
In the US, California signed AB 1423 into law — notably removing credit card reader requirements for EV chargers while introducing uptime reporting obligations for older stations. Colorado opened a new DCFC plaza funding round with differentiated incentives by geography and storage integration bonuses. And across Europe, the extension of zero-emission truck toll exemptions under the Eurovignette Directive signals growing policy momentum for HDV electrification.
Here’s what changed in October and what it means for your operations.
Regulatory developments
ViDA confirmation from DG TAXUD settles EV charging VAT framework
The European Commission’s DG TAXUD has now directly confirmed to AMPECO what we’ve been tracking since the ViDA package’s adoption in March 2025: from January 1, 2027, B2C supplies of electricity including public EV charging fall within the Union One-Stop Shop scheme. Charging operators serving customers across multiple EU Member States will no longer need separate VAT registrations in each country — they can declare and pay VAT through a single Member State of identification.
For B2B transactions, ViDA introduces an expanded reverse-charge mechanism mandatory from July 1, 2028. When the supplier is not established or VAT-registered in the country of supply, VAT liability shifts to the business customer, ensuring a harmonised approach that minimises double registration obligations.
Together, these measures address one of the longest-standing administrative burdens for cross-border charging operators. By integrating OSS into charging operations and aligning B2B taxation through reverse charge, ViDA provides the foundation for a unified digital VAT framework suited to Europe’s cross-border e-mobility market.
What this means for operators:
- The January 2027 deadline is now approximately 14 months away — operators serving multiple EU markets should be actively working with tax advisors to identify their OSS registration Member State and transition billing systems
- The July 2028 B2B reverse-charge mechanism will simplify roaming arrangements where EMSPs and CPOs operate across borders
- Additional guidance from DG TAXUD is expected soon — AMPECO is maintaining ongoing dialogue to ensure practical operational concerns are addressed
Dutch NAP operational with strengthened national framework for public charging
The Netherlands continues to build out its AFIR compliance infrastructure. NKL Basisset AC, the national technical and contractual baseline for public AC charging, received its 2025 v1.0 update strengthening provisions on grid impact, data sharing, and cybersecurity, with circularity and full accessibility requirements to follow as EU and national rules evolve. The standard serves as the reference for tenders and concessions, aligned with AFIR and ISO 15118-20 interoperability standards.
DOT-NL, the Dutch National Access Point that went live in April, continues operating under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Operators must publish both static data (location, connector type) and dynamic data (availability, status) continuously via the OCPI protocol. The platform aggregates operator data and makes it freely available to enable transparent analysis and innovation.
What this means for operators:
- CPOs managing public charge points in the Netherlands who are not yet connected should contact the NDW service desk immediately — compliance requires continuous, automated data publication rather than one-off submissions
- The NKL Basisset AC standard will increasingly define tender requirements in Dutch municipalities — operators should align their technical and contractual frameworks with its specifications
- The Netherlands’ mature NAP implementation provides a reference model for how AFIR data obligations will work in practice across other Member States
Germany’s Masterplan Charging Infrastructure 2030 delivers mixed signals
Germany published its Masterplan Charging Infrastructure 2030, a policy document with significant implications given Germany’s position as the EU’s largest EV market and an influential Member State.
On the positive side, the plan addresses longstanding operator pain points. Regulatory streamlining promises less bureaucracy, improved building and parking codes, and faster permitting for new charge points. Grid connection acceleration commits to greater digitalisation, transparency, and faster connection processes — particularly valuable for high-power sites. Tax relief for grid injection opens the door to advanced energy management business models. And a centralised price transparency register alongside charger reservation functions for trucks and buses will improve market visibility. Plans to simplify metering requirements and tackle cable theft are also welcome.
However, the plan contains positions that challenge current EU initiatives and introduce potential risks. Germany’s proposed approach to AFIR blocking fees is viewed as too rigid, potentially removing Member State flexibility to adapt to local market conditions. Plans for state-funded truck charging carry the risk of creating government-run networks that could distort competition and reduce private sector investment in the HDV segment. And overall budget uncertainties raise questions about follow-through on the plan’s ambitions.
What this means for operators:
- The permitting and grid access improvements, if implemented, will materially reduce deployment timelines in Germany — operators should monitor secondary legislation translating these commitments into practice
- The blocking fee approach could create compliance complications for operators with pan-European pricing strategies — watch for how this interacts with AFIR at the EU level
- The state-funded truck charging direction reinforces the market design tensions we flagged in September’s coverage of Germany’s HDV tender pass-through model
- CPOs with German operations should engage through industry associations to shape implementation of the Masterplan’s more contentious elements
California’s AB 1423 reshapes payment and reliability rules for EV charging
California’s AB 1423, signed into law in October 2025, introduces a notable regulatory shift. The bill requires the California Energy Commission to develop uptime recordkeeping and reporting standards for charging stations installed between January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2024 — extending reliability obligations to older infrastructure not covered by the final reliability framework we covered in August. Stations must provide clear customer notifications about availability and accessibility, with penalties of up to $2,500 per violation for reliability failures.
The most operationally significant provision is the removal of credit card reader requirements for EV chargers. This lowers installation costs and streamlines the charging experience, marking a pragmatic acknowledgement that app-based and contactless payment methods have become the dominant user preference.
What this means for operators:
- Operators with stations installed between 2018 and 2024 now face new uptime reporting obligations — assess which assets fall within this window and prepare data collection systems
- The credit card reader removal reduces hardware costs for new installations and may allow operators to simplify existing payment infrastructure
- The $2,500 per-violation penalty structure creates meaningful enforcement risk for operators with poor reliability records
Europe accelerates zero-emission truck transition through toll exemptions
ACEA welcomed the EU’s extension of toll exemptions for zero-emission trucks and buses under the Eurovignette Directive — one of the few fiscal tools directly reducing operating costs for electric fleets. The extension gives Member States more time to apply full or partial exemptions.
Industry stakeholders are pushing for structural reforms alongside fiscal measures. Recent technical discussions in Brussels indicate coordinated EU-level movement on grid transparency through unified capacity mapping, shortened connection timelines through flexible agreements, energy flexibility encouraging battery storage and demand management at charging sites, permitting reform streamlining administrative processes, fiscal consistency removing double taxation on storage, and continued funding support for heavy-duty corridors through 2026.
What this means for operators:
- Toll exemptions improve the total cost of ownership calculation for electric trucks, strengthening the demand case for HDV charging infrastructure
- The coordinated push on grid transparency, flexible connection agreements, and permitting reform addresses the structural barriers that we’ve tracked across multiple editions — operators should monitor these proposals as they will shape HDV charging deployment economics
Funding and incentive updates
CALeVIP extends FCCP application deadline to January 29, 2026
The California Energy Commission and Center for Sustainable Energy extended the Fast Charge California Project deadline to January 29, 2026, responding to industry feedback about permitting, grid connection, and utility coordination delays. AMPECO customers wishing to participate as eligible network providers should note that CSE will sign a Data Sharing Agreement directly with each AMPECO client — interested parties should complete the official intake form provided by CSE to initiate the process.
Colorado opens new round of DCFC plaza funding with storage bonuses
The Colorado Energy Office launched a new application round for its DCFC Plazas Program, combining NEVI and Community Access Enterprise funding with differentiated incentives based on geography. The seven-county Denver metro area offers up to $75,000 per port at a maximum of 50% of project cost, Front Range urban areas up to $100,000 per port at 65%, and rural areas up to $125,000 per port at 80%. All sites require a minimum of four DC fast charging ports at 150 kW or above.
Enhanced incentives are available for energy storage integration: $25,000 per site for battery-integrated storage and $45,000 per site for standalone storage of 90 kWh or above. The submission deadline is December 5, 2025.
What this means for operators:
- The rural incentive structure at $125,000 per port with 80% cost coverage makes previously marginal locations financially viable — operators should evaluate Colorado rural corridors for deployment
- The storage integration bonuses signal Colorado’s push for grid-resilient charging infrastructure — operators with battery storage capabilities have a competitive advantage in this programme
- The December 5 deadline is tight — operators interested should begin applications immediately
Indiana advances Charging the Crossroads initiative
Indiana’s INDOT announced progress on its flagship NEVI-funded programme, moving forward with contracting processes for contingent awards initially announced in 2024 following the FHWA’s revised guidance from August. The updated federal framework provides greater state flexibility, removing administrative hurdles that previously slowed deployment. Further details on upcoming phases will be released on the Charging the Crossroads website.
AMPECO leadership and advocacy
Take Charge campaign grows to 200+ signatories defending EU’s 2035 target
The Take Charge campaign has expanded since September’s initial letter, with AMPECO’s CEO now among over 200 executives from the EV, charging, and clean-tech sectors who signed the open letter to Commission President von der Leyen. The campaign, coordinated by E-Mobility Europe and ChargeUp Europe, continues to urge the EU to maintain its 100% CO₂ reduction target for new cars and vans by 2035, backed by robust industrial policy, consistent consumer incentives, and accelerated charging grid investment.
Key dates and deadlines
- December 5, 2025: Colorado DCFC Plazas submission deadline
- January 9, 2026: CALSTART Communities in Charge Wave 4 deadline
- January 29, 2026: CALeVIP FCCP extended application deadline
- January 1, 2026: California 97% uptime mandate takes effect
- January 8, 2026: ISO 15118-2 compliance for newly installed public chargers
- April 14, 2026: DATEX II reporting deadline
- January 1, 2027: ViDA Union OSS applies to B2C EV charging
- July 1, 2028: ViDA B2B reverse-charge mechanism takes effect
Need help navigating ViDA compliance, German market strategy, or US funding opportunities?
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