The government, currently in caretaker mode, approved a set of measures on February 26 aimed at deregulating electric mobility by eliminating the role of the electric vehicle service provider, which would allow drivers to charge their vehicles at any station without being restricted to specific contract sites.
In a statement, the associations UVE and ZERO assert that the legislation, which was open for public consultation until Saturday, is a crucial step toward expanding the sector. However, they express concerns that promoting closed charging models could lead to higher prices.
“The mandatory interoperability aspect is responsible for much of the success of electric mobility in Portugal, and its potential elimination would represent a significant setback in the evolution of electric mobility in our country,” the statement reads.
The associations believe the proposal poses “significant risks for users, requiring multiple contracts with different operators to secure the best pricing conditions.”
They call for a reassessment of this aspect to “protect users’ rights,” arguing that the proposed model, reliant on service providers for electric mobility, has shown “serious limitations in countries where it has been implemented.”
UVE and ZERO also raise “serious concerns regarding the maintenance of a competitive market and the prevention of oligopolies,” suggesting that measures should be adopted to minimize the risk of creating isolated networks.
“The removal of the service provider role […] and the promotion of networks that can operate independently might result in a significant reduction in competition, directly affecting prices for users and the overall accessibility to charging infrastructures,” they argue.
Additionally, the associations view the dismantling of Mobi.e—a public company designated as the Electric Mobility Network Managing Entity—as negative, emphasizing that the “fragmentation of the entity responsible for managing electric mobility in Portugal is a questionable management decision.”
In their opinion, a global managing entity for electric mobility is indispensable, as the Portuguese state “has invested significant resources in the creation of a public asset over 16 years” and there is no reason for this work and investment not to continue.
UVE and ZERO also express concern about the potential negative impact of eliminating the charge point operator model for intensive-use fleets, a model that “has been vital” for companies managing large volumes of electric mileage.
“Its discontinuation could create investment uncertainties and hinder the electric transition of fleets, causing instability in a rapidly growing sector,” they note.
Therefore, the associations consider the draft decree-law “incomplete,” leaving a set of essential measures necessary for its realization unaddressed.
“It’s essential that there is no rush in drafting and approving this document, allowing it to be refined to address the concerns and suggestions raised by all stakeholders in the sector,” they conclude.
