How Hotels Can Prepare for Europe's Electrification Targets

Electric vehicle sales in Europe rose by more than 30% in 2025, reaching 28% of all new car sales. In 2026, forecasts put that figure at around one in three cars sold.

For hotels, that growth comes with new requirements for EV charging infrastructure. Two pieces of EU legislation are particularly important: the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

Together, they affect both the charging stations hotels install and the infrastructure their car parks need. At the same time, limited grid capacity can make expanding a site's electrical connection a lengthy process.

Hotels planning EV charging therefore need to look beyond the charging station itself. Regulation, parking infrastructure, available grid capacity, funding and hardware all need to be part of the same plan.

_{Source: IEA, Global EV Outlook 2026}

What do AFIR and the EPBD Mean for Hotels?

AFIR and the EPBD both affect EV charging, but they regulate different parts of the infrastructure.

• AFIR sets requirements for the charging station and the charging experience. For publicly accessible chargers, this includes payment, pricing transparency, technical standards and smart charging.
• The EPBD sets requirements for buildings and car parks. It determines when non-residential buildings need charging points and pre-cabling based on factors such as the number of parking spaces and whether the building is new, existing or undergoing major renovation.

A hotel can meet the requirements of one regulation while still falling short of the other. Both should therefore be considered when planning hotel EV charging infrastructure.

What are the AFIR Requirements for Hotel EV Chargers?

For chargers that are publicly accessible, including hotel chargers open to guests or other drivers, AFIR introduces requirements that apply regardless of the size of the building.

• Ad-hoc payment must be available without requiring a subscription or app account, while the price per kWh needs to be shown before the charging session starts.
• From 1 January 2027, every charger rated at 50 kW or above must accept payment cards directly. Chargers installed or refurbished from that date must also support smart charging.

These requirements are set at EU level. Hotels investing in new charging infrastructure should therefore consider whether the hardware they select today will continue to meet AFIR requirements as they evolve.

_{Source: ICCT, European Union Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation: EU Policy Update}

What are the EPBD Requirements for Hotel EV Charging?

While AFIR focuses on the charger, the EPBD focuses on the building and its parking infrastructure.

• New non-residential buildings and buildings undergoing major renovation with more than five parking spaces need at least one recharging point for every five spaces. Pre-cabling is also required for at least half of the remaining parking spaces, making it easier to add more chargers later.
• Existing non-residential buildings with more than 20 parking spaces face a comparable obligation from 2027, while buildings owned by public bodies follow by 2033.

The EPBD is being transposed into national law by individual EU member states, so permitting, implementation and enforcement can differ between countries. The underlying European requirements, however, remain relevant when hotels plan future charging infrastructure.

_{Source: Climate Change Advisory Council,, EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive}

Why Should Hotels Understand Their Available Grid Capacity?

Adding EV chargers increases a hotel's power demand, but that does not automatically mean the grid connection needs to be upgraded. The first step is understanding how much capacity is already available and how it is being used across the site.

An Energy Management System can help make better use of that existing capacity. By monitoring the hotel's consumption in real time, charging power can be adjusted around demand from kitchens, HVAC and other essential loads. When more capacity becomes available, more power can be directed to EV charging.

This matters because additional grid capacity is not always quickly available. In some European markets, connection times for new or upgraded capacity have increased from around six months to close to two years. A 2026 analysis across eight European markets found roughly €100 billion in capital value tied up in distribution grid connection queues.

_{Sources: Rabobank, From Niche to Norm: Europe's EV Charging Infrastructure in 2025; AFRY and Beyond Fossil Fuels, Grid Expectations: The Distribution Backlog Stalling Europe's Energy Transition}

What if a hotel does need more grid capacity?

If the existing connection cannot support the hotel's current and future energy needs, the local distribution system operator should be involved early.

Hotels can check whether the operator publishes an online capacity map and submit a connection request to determine what additional capacity is available and whether network reinforcement is required.

It is also worth asking about flexible or time-limited connection agreements. These can sometimes provide access to capacity sooner by allowing charging during specific periods, such as off-peak hours, rather than waiting for a fully unrestricted connection.

The aim is to understand what the existing connection can support first, optimise the capacity already available and only then determine whether additional grid capacity is needed.

_{Source: E.DSO, Grid-Optimised Deployment of Charging Infrastructure for Light and Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Overcoming Capacity Constraints}

Is Funding Available for Hotel EV Charging?

EU and national funding can support the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, although support available directly to hotels differs considerably by country.

At EU level, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility allocated €422 million across 39 cross-border projects in its most recent funding round. This funding supports charging infrastructure, hydrogen stations and the electrification of ports and airports through the Connecting Europe Facility. It is primarily directed towards infrastructure operators rather than individual hotels.

National and regional programmes can be more directly relevant to hotel projects. Examples include accelerated depreciation for corporate charging equipment in Germany, regional support for commercial charging infrastructure in France and schemes covering part of the cost of new fast-charging points in Ireland.

Hotels should therefore check the funding, tax and incentive programmes available in their own country or region before finalising the project budget.

_{Source: Pilot, EV Charging Infrastructure Incentives in Europe 2025}

How Should Hotels Plan an EV Charging Project?

A hotel EV charging project should start with the needs of the property and the capacity already available on site.

• First, determine which EPBD requirements apply based on the number of parking spaces and whether the building is new, existing or undergoing major renovation.

• Next, look at the hotel's current energy use and available electrical capacity. An Energy Management System can coordinate EV charging with other loads across the property, making better use of the existing connection and helping avoid unnecessary peaks. For many hotels, this can create room for EV charging without immediately increasing grid capacity.

• If the existing connection still cannot support the hotel's current and future needs, the local distribution system operator can then be involved to explore additional capacity, network reinforcement or a flexible connection.

• With the regulatory requirements and available capacity clear, the hotel can select an AC and DC charging setup that fits both guest needs and the wider energy system.

_{Source: Climate Change Advisory Council, EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive}

Should Hotels Wait for National EPBD Rules?

The EPBD is implemented through national legislation, which means individual EU member states determine parts of the permitting, implementation and enforcement process.

That process is still developing in several countries, but hotels do not need to wait for every national detail before starting their preparations.

Parking capacity can already be assessed, grid availability can be investigated and potential connection upgrades can be discussed with the distribution system operator. Hotels can also research available funding and begin defining their future charging requirements.

Starting this work early reduces the amount that still needs to be done once national rules and procedures are fully established.

_{Source: ICCT, European Union Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation: EU Policy Update}

Continue Planning Your Hotel EV Charging Infrastructure

Once the regulatory and grid requirements are clear, the next step is deciding how charging should work within the hotel's wider energy system.

• Why hotels are investing in EV charging and energy management
• How to avoid higher electricity costs when adding EV charging
• Adding EV charging without overloading your electrical system
• AC vs DC charging for hotels