Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Brussels introduces a uniform tax of €125 per port for public EV charging stations across its municipalities, aiming to standardize fees and offset lost parking revenues. The measure aims to streamline operations and encourage broader EV adoption.
Brussels’ 19 municipalities have decided on a uniform tax of €125 per port for operators of public EV charging stations. In approach, the tax per charging dock will usually be 250 euros, as most of them are dual-port charging stations.
Why are Brussels municipalities implementing a uniform tax now?
Some Brussels municipalities already impose different taxes on public EV charging placements. In Saint-Gilles and Ixelles, for example, the tax charges to 360 euros and 562 euros per dual-port charger respectively. But as each municipality is permitted to apply its rate, providers of public charging posts defect en masse to the municipality with the most favourable tax. The city is therefore undertaking a new uniform tax. Providers will from now on be levied 125 euros per port per year, or 250 for dual-port charging posts.
How do current tax rates vary among Brussels municipalities?
In regulation, each municipality is free to choose whether to implement the tax or not. But the anticipation is that they will. By doing so, they hope to neutralise the amount of income they lose in parking fees. Certainly, two parking areas are taken up for each EV charging station. In some areas, where revenues from parking prices are high, they are losing a lot of money as a result. On top of this, the reduction in petrol pumps, which are also taxed by the metropolises, is also declining revenues.
What prompted the decision to standardize EV charging taxes?
The deal on the uniform tax rate for public EV charging stations was advanced at the end of March but only now evolved to public. In addition, the mayors of the 19 municipalities also decided on a new rate for drivers who vacate their electric car linked to an EV charging station while it is already completely charged. This should enable them to drive their car faster. The opening of the tax and the fee are scheduled for next year.
What changes are expected for EV charging infrastructure by 2026?
In 2023 it announced that the Charging stations for electric vehicles must be positioned along the main European motorways at least every 60 kilometres from 2026, the European Parliament resolved. The charging posts will be located every 60 kilometres from 2026 and must have an accommodation of at least 400 kW, and be capable of generating at least 600 kW from 2028.
“In the future, you should be able to charge your electric car anywhere in the European Union.
These new rules ensure that” stated Belgian MEP for the Flemish socialist party Vooruit, Kathleen Van Brempt. For big trucks, there will be a charging station every 60 km from 2031. By then, hydrogen refilling stations will also have to be established every 200 km along the main motorways.
