Under EU rules, a home EV charger can become a publicly accessible charging point if its parking space is opened to the general public. Private ownership of the charger does not decide its legal status.
The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) has applied in EU member states since 13 April 2024. It is not a US regulation. Its requirements for public charging include payment options, transparent prices and charging-point information. The exact obligations depend on the charger, its location and how it is used. The European Commission's AFIR guidance explains how public accessibility is assessed.
Who can use the parking space?
That is the practical starting point. A charger reserved for residents of an apartment building or for employees at a workplace is generally not publicly accessible. A charger offered to any driver who wants to book a session may be, even when it sits on privately owned property.
The Commission's answers to questions 2.7–2.15 make the distinction clear: a restricted group must be identifiable and authorised to access the property for a purpose other than charging or parking. Limiting opening hours, requiring a reservation or allowing only registered app users does not, on its own, change a public charging point into a private one.
An example for charger owners
You use your driveway charger with your household: ordinarily private charging. You open that same parking space to bookings from any nearby EV driver: public-charging obligations may become relevant.
Before offering paid charging
Check that you have permission to let other vehicles park at the property and that your charger can manage access and record sessions reliably. If you intend to charge by energy used, the applicable national metering and billing rules need attention too.
For a publicly accessible point, an operator may have to provide ad hoc payment, display prices before charging starts and publish specified charging-point data. AFIR's requirements vary by charging power and circumstances; for example, a physical card terminal is not a blanket requirement for every low-power AC charger. The charger owner, software platform and any charging-point operator must establish who is responsible for compliance.
What VeeShare is testing
Veevex is preparing controlled VeeShare pilots involving compatible AC chargers. The work covers charger integration, owner approval, availability settings and charging-session records. Whether a location can take part in paid sharing depends on its equipment, access permissions and local rules.
If you own an AC charger and are interested in a pilot, tell us the charger model and installation location. We can assess the proposed use; joining a pilot does not guarantee income or establish regulatory compliance.
For a manufacturer's explanation of the different technical obligations, see go-e's AFIR guide.
This article provides general information, not legal advice. National requirements and the actual parking-access arrangement must be assessed separately.