The EU had about 1.16 million publicly accessible charging points by August 2026, around 222,000 of them DC chargers, according to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory. The question now is what it is like to use them, especially when it comes to prices and payment. Research published in 2026 shows that public charging prices remain a problem across Europe, while drivers in Germany report high satisfaction overall.
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Finding |
Figure |
Source |
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AC charging prices, depending on the supplier |
€0.27 to €0.65 per kWh |
|
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DC fast charging prices in some markets |
More than €1 per kWh |
European Parliament study, EU-wide, 2026 |
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Drivers who say public charging meets their expectations |
91% |
BDEW, Germany, 2026 (about 1,000 respondents) |
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Respondents who want the level and transparency of prices improved |
About one in four |
ADAC, Germany, 2026 (1,060 respondents) |
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Public charging users who have paid directly by bank or credit card |
More than a third |
ADAC, Germany, 2026 |
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Users who change how they charge at night for safety reasons |
56% (67% of women) |
ADAC, Germany, 2026 |
A In Germany, two surveys published in 2026, each with around 1,000 respondents, give a detailed picture. In the BDEW user survey, 91% of respondents say public charging meets their expectations, and almost two thirds of ADAC respondents are satisfied or very satisfied. These results are a useful indicator, but they do not represent every European market.
At EU level, the clearest 2026 data is on prices. A May 2026 study for the European Parliament's Transport Committee found that public charging is substantially more expensive than charging at home and that prices are often non-transparent and complex (European Parliament study). Average AC prices through mobility service providers range from €0.27 to €0.65 per kWh, and the highest DC prices exceed €1 per kWh in some markets. AFIR requires prices to be transparent and easy to compare, but the study finds implementation and enforcement remain uneven.
German drivers raise the same issue. About one in four ADAC respondents think the level and transparency of charging prices need to improve, and almost 60% of BDEW respondents use a price comparison app to find good prices.
In Germany, most drivers still pay with an app or charging card, which 82% of BDEW respondents use. Even so, more than a third of ADAC respondents have already paid directly at the charger by bank or credit card. Under AFIR, ad hoc payment must be possible with at least one widely used electronic payment instrument.
In the ADAC survey in Germany, 56% of public charging users, and 67% of women, change how they charge at night for safety reasons. More than 60% would like better lighting or video surveillance.
The 2026 surveys say little about broken chargers, but drivers still expect the charger to work when they arrive. Problems can also come from the vehicle. In EcoG's Charging Reliability Index 2025, none of the ten tested vehicle platforms scored above 76 out of 100. Read more in What makes EV charging reliable?
Charger hardware and software affect both payment and reliability. Support for a card terminal or QR code payment helps chargers meet AFIR's ad hoc payment requirement, and Plug & Charge under ISO 15118 removes the need for an app or card. Remote diagnostics and over-the-air updates allow problems to be fixed without a site visit.
EcoG OS includes pre-integrated, certified ad hoc payment options with card terminals and QR codes, as well as Plug & Charge under ISO 15118-2 and -20. It is certified for OCPP 1.6J and 2.0.1 by the Open Charge Alliance.
To see how vehicles behave at public chargers, read the EcoG Charging Reliability Index 2025.
How much does public EV charging cost in Europe? According to a 2026 study for the European Parliament, average AC prices through mobility service providers range from €0.27 to €0.65 per kWh, and the highest DC prices exceed €1 per kWh in some markets.
Are EV drivers satisfied with public charging? In Germany, mostly. In 2026 surveys, 91% of BDEW respondents said public charging meets their expectations, and almost two thirds of ADAC respondents were satisfied or very satisfied. About one in four ADAC respondents want the level and transparency of prices improved.
Does AFIR require card payment at public chargers? AFIR requires ad hoc payment with at least one widely used electronic payment instrument, so drivers can charge without a contract.