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Germany Charging Station Ordinance (LSV)

Germany Charging Station Ordinance (LSV): Germany’s Ladesäulenverordnung: Core Rules for Public EV Charging Infrastructure

Maílis Carrilho
Written by Maílis Carrilho
Updated on December 1st, 2025

Summary

The Ladesäulenverordnung (LSV) sets the minimum technical, interoperability and user-access requirements for publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Germany. It ensures that EV charging across the country is safe, standardised and non-discriminatory, supporting a coherent national charging network and aligning German rules with broader EU frameworks, including the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). The ordinance applies to public charging points, defining when a charging point is considered public, which connectors are mandatory and how payments must be enabled. All public charging operators must provide standardised connectors (Type 2 / CCS), enable ad-hoc charging without prior contracts, ensure transparent, metrology-compliant billing, and, for new installations, offer contactless card payment. Operators must also maintain technical interoperability and meet EU-aligned data-provision requirements.

Details

Jurisdictions
  • Germany
Exemptions

The LSV imposes binding compliance obligations on operators of publicly accessible EV charging points in Germany.

Criteria:

Public charging points must use standardised connectors (Type 2, CCS).

Operators must ensure non-discriminatory access for all users.

Ad-hoc charging (no registration required) must be available.

New charging points must support contactless card payment.

Pricing must be displayed transparently; billing must be metrology-compliant.

Interoperability and technical requirements, including AFIR alignment, must be ensured.

Operators must maintain safe operation and system availability.

Exceptions:

Non-public charging points (restricted to employees, private depots, gated areas) are exempt.

Non-public points do not need ad-hoc charging or contactless payment.

Legacy charging points may receive transitional exceptions on payment rules.

Smaller AC chargers may be exempt from certain AFIR data requirements.

Temporary or mobile charging units may receive exemptions with authority approval.

Deep dive

2 min read
Published Dec 1, 2025

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What’s Required

Operators of publicly accessible EV charging points must comply with technical, payment, and interoperability requirements, including:

  • Use of standardised charging connectors (e.g. Type 2, CCS).

  • Ensuring non-discriminatory access for all users.

  • Providing ad-hoc charging without requiring prior registration.

  • Offering contactless payment options for new charging points.

  • Displaying clear pricing and billing information.

  • Ensuring metrology-compliant (eichrechtskonform) measurement and billing.

  • Ensuring compatibility with EU AFIR data and transparency requirements.

Important Deadlines

  • New charging points installed after mid-2024 must include contactless card payment options.

  • Operators must continuously maintain compliance with interoperability and payment rules.

  • Annual or periodic technical inspections may be required depending on local regulatory practice.

Current Status

  • The LSV is fully in force.

  • It has been updated multiple times to align with evolving EU standards, especially the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).

  • No significant legal challenges threaten the ordinance; it is a foundational policy for Germany’s EV charging infrastructure.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Statutory penalties include:

  • Administrative fines for failing to provide required payment options.

  • Fines for non-compliant technical configuration or failure to meet interoperability standards.

  • Enforcement orders to correct or disable non-compliant charging points.

  • Penalties for unlawful discriminatory access restrictions.

There are no criminal sanctions associated with the LSV.

Examples of Known Violations

As of November 2025, no publicly available cases detail enforcement actions or fines under the LSV. Non-compliance is usually addressed through corrective orders or on-site inspections.

Resources


Maílis Carrilho
Added by:
Maílis Carrilho
Sustainability Research Analyst
Maílis Carrilho is a Sustainability Research Analyst (Intern) at Net Zero Compare, contributing research and analysis on climate tech, carbon policies, and sustainable solutions. She supports the team in developing fact-based content and insights to help companies and readers navigate the evolving sustainability landscape.
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Added on Dec 1, 2025 by Maílis Carrilho ·