The European Parliament's TRAN Committee on 3 June 2026 debated a proposal to exempt certain N2 electric vehicles from speed limitation device requirements, with broad support from political groups. Rapporteur Merja Kyllönen (The Left) welcomed the targeted exemption, arguing it balances safety, innovation, and competitiveness. EPP shadow rapporteur Jens Gieseke supported the pragmatic approach, noting it helps SMEs. S&D's Vivien Costanzo expressed skepticism but backed the targeted exception, while Renew's Benoit Cassart confirmed no amendments would be tabled. The Commission's Mark Nicklas (DG GROW) noted the directive complements the General Safety Regulation. Amendments to the speed limitation directive are due by 10 June.
Separately, the committee discussed a study on pricing of e-charging for electric cars and onshore power supply (OPS) in ports, presented by Harm Weken and Edwin Bestebreurtje (FIER Sustainable Mobility). The study, costing €60,000, found pricing is often non-transparent, with wide spreads (up to 5x) and hidden fees. For OPS, most ports do not publish prices, creating a monopoly-like situation. For EV charging, ad hoc prices can be double home charging, and mobility service providers (MSPs) add surcharges. Recommendations include mandating pre-session all-in prices, itemized receipts, and extending AFIR rules to AC charging below 50 kW. MEPs questioned fairness for those without home charging and asked for top priorities in the upcoming AFIR revision, which is expected to address transparency issues.
The debate highlighted a cleavage between consumer protection and business competitiveness: while the speed-limiter exemption supports SMEs and innovation, the pricing study reveals consumer harm from opaque charging markets. The AFIR revision will likely pull in different directions, with consumer advocates pushing for mandatory price transparency and industry seeking flexibility. Stakeholders most impacted include EV drivers (benefiting from clearer pricing but potentially facing higher compliance costs passed on by MSPs), port operators (who may need to publish prices, reducing monopoly rents), and SMEs in the N2 EV sector (gaining regulatory relief). The Commission's upcoming AFIR proposal will determine the balance between transparency mandates and market freedom.