The European Parliament's Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee on 3 June 2026 debated two items: a proposal to exempt certain N2 electric vehicles from speed limitation device requirements, and a study exposing opaque pricing in electric vehicle charging and onshore power supply (OPS).
Rapporteur Merja Kyllönen (The Left) welcomed the targeted exemption for N2 electric vehicles, 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. 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.
A study by Harm Weken and Edwin Bestebreurtje (FIER Sustainable Mobility), costing €60,000, found that pricing for e-charging and OPS 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 For OPS, most ports do not publish prices, creating a monopoly-like situation.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 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. The AFIR revision is expected to address transparency issues.
The debate highlighted a cleavage between consumer protection and business competitiveness. The exemption for N2 EVs supports innovation and SME competitiveness but may raise safety concerns. The pricing study's recommendations would increase transparency for consumers and port users, potentially reducing costs for those without home charging, but could impose administrative burdens on charging operators and ports. Stakeholders impacted include EV drivers (benefiting from price transparency), charging operators (facing new disclosure requirements), ports (needing to publish OPS prices), and SMEs in the N2 EV sector (gaining regulatory relief).