Enhancing E-Credit Systems to Accelerate Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment in Spain
The Association of Ultra-Fast Charging Operators (AORU) has expressed a positive outlook on the publication of the Council of State report concerning the future e-credit scheme in Spain. They emphasise the importance of regulations recognising electricitys vital role in decarbonising transport to facilitate rapid infrastructure expansion.
The proposed system, aligned with the European Union Directive RED III and awaiting final approval in Spain, will enable renewable electricity supplied to electric vehicles to generate tradable certificates. Obligated companies can purchase these certificates to meet their carbon intensity reduction targets, integrating market-based incentives into the sector.
AORU views this mechanism as an opportunity to drive energy transition using market instruments without resorting to additional public funding. E-credits could serve as a powerful tool to encourage private investment, helping improve the profitability of existing ultra-fast charge points and supporting the deployment of new sites that are currently less financially viable.
Bastien Verot, President of AORU, stated that e-credits have the potential to become one of the most effective means to accelerate electric mobility in Spain. They offer financial recognition for efforts toward decarbonisation and provide stable investment signals, all while incurring no costs to the national budget.
The system aims to economically value the contribution of electric mobility to emission reductions. Charge operators will be able to certify and trade the MWh of renewable electricity supplied to vehicles, while companies subject to decarbonisation obligations can purchase such credits to partially meet regulatory requirements.
This initiative aligns with EU targets to cut road fuel emissions by 14.5 percent by 2030 and 30 percent by 2035. In Spain, AORU believes it will also bolster energy sovereignty by promoting greater utilisation of renewable energy in the transport sector.
The regulatory framework is nearing completion, following public consultations held in September 2025 and January 2026, the recent Council of State report, and pending publication of the Royal Decree in the Boletin Oficial del Estado (BOE). A supplementary ministerial order concerning electricity regulation is also expected, with implementation planned for 1 January 2027.
From an economic perspective, the impact on ultrafast charging operators is significant. A high-power electroliner typically requires investments exceeding 500,000 euros, covering land, grid connection, transformers, and charging equipment. The introduction of e-credits could provide an additional revenue stream, improving investment returns and speeding up the amortisation process for existing stations, while also facilitating the deployment of new charging sites.
As a market-based mechanism not reliant on subsidies, it offers a predictable and stable investment signal to financial actors interested in expanding charging infrastructure over the coming years. Experience from other European countries demonstrates that strong regulatory design is crucial for success, enabling e-credits to serve as an effective incentive for infrastructure development and reducing charging costs for consumers.
Verot highlights that Spain has a unique opportunity to craft a system that fully recognises electricitys role in transport decarbonisation, noting that clear regulatory details are key to converting the mechanisms potential into tangible infrastructure expansion and environmental benefits.