FAQs relating to Electric Vehicle Charging
Publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure is charging infrastructure (charging pillars/charging points) open for the use of the general public. Charging points installed for own personal use or for the use of an entity’s own vehicle fleet or those with restricted access to a limited, determinate circle of persons, such as parking lots in office buildings to which only employees or authorised persons have access, are not considered as publicly accessible charging infrastructure.
Publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure is charging infrastructure (charging pillars/charging points) open for the use of the general public. Charging points installed for own personal use or for the use of an entity’s own vehicle fleet or those with restricted access to a limited, determinate circle of persons, such as parking lots in office buildings to which only employees or authorised persons have access, are not considered as publicly accessible charging infrastructure.
Any sole trader, company, legal organisation or partnership etc may apply to obtain Authorisation from the Regulator for Energy and Water Services (or REWS in short) to be issued with an Authorisation as a PCIO. No experience is required and the monetary turn-over of the applicant/company etc will not be a determining factor in the granting or otherwise of said Authorisation. The application submitted to REWS must, however, include a brief operational plan including the organisational set-up of the operator, the planned number of charging points, type and location that will be operated.
The Publicly Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Regulations (S.L.545.38) entered into force on the 13th of November 2022; that is, two months from the date of publication of the regulations in the Government Gazette dated the 13th of September 2022. After this date you need an authorisation to operate the publicly accessible charging points.
The application forms to apply for an authorisation and to register the charging points operated under the authorisations may be downloaded from the REWS website, link: https://www.rews.org.mt/#/en/sdgr/519-authorisation-to-act-as-an-operator-of-publicly-accessible-electric-vehicles-charging-infrastructure
The applicable electricity tariffs are those established by the Electricity Supply Regulations (S.L.545.01) for charging of electric vehicles in non-residential premises. A summary of the Approved Electric Vehicle Charging Electricity Tariffs may be found on the REWS website, link: https://www.rews.org.mt/#/en/a/13-regulated-electricity-tariffs
An operator of publicly accessible charging points (PCIO) may charge a price (normally a premium) over and above the electricity component to cover the cost of providing the charging point service. This price is determined by the PCIO and is not regulated. However, the PCIO should clearly display the electricity component cost from the premium.
A PCIO is bound by the regulations to display the electricity component (fixed tariff rate as established by the Electricity Supply Regulations) separately from the other price components that cover the costs of the charging point operation.
The electricity tariff component is inclusive of VAT and should be charged at cost as a passthrough. An 18% VAT is applicable on the separate fee that the charging point operator may determine and charge for the use of the EV charging infrastructure.
In all cases, Enemalta plc. will install one EV meter per ARMS account of the required rating to which charging points may be connected.
The applicable charges for the connection to the grid are those established by the Electricity Supply Regulations (S.L.545.01), link: https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/545.1/eng/pdf
A summary of charges applicable to install an EV meter on an existing electricity service is available at https://www.rews.org.mt/#/en/a/13-regulated-electricity-tariffs
For more details on specific scenarios, one must consult Enemalta plc, the distribution system operator (DSO), by submitting an email to evconsult.em@enemalta.com.mt.
No, a PCIO is obliged to allow EV users to use any charging point without the need of a contract, the so-called Ad hoc charging.
Yes, it is possible to offer contract-based electric vehicle charging.
Yes; apart from the Ad hoc charging a PCIO may also offer contract-based charging arrangements to the EV user and/or roaming services to EV users having a contract with other operators. An Operator offering a charging service on a contractual basis on behalf of other operators may provide this service through a digital connection of the publicly accessible charging infrastructure to an interoperability platform, whether managed by the same operator of publicly accessible charging infrastructure or by third parties.
The Publicly Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Regulations (S.L.545.38), regulation 11 requires that the Open Charge Point Protocol (or OCPP) shall be used for the exchange of data between charging points and charging point management system; and Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI?) between charging point management system and platforms that provide charging services (e-mobility services) and roaming services.
The Malta Enterprise can guide each applicant on a one-to-one basis towards a number of EU schemes and other tax credits/grants that are available for small to medium-sized enterprises (or SMEs in short).
Personal charging points may only be installed inside within private properties and used within such private properties.
The location of existing Publicly Accessible Charging Points installed by Government and other information may be found at : https://chargemyride.mt/#tariffs
The applicable electricity tariffs are those established by the Electricity Supply Regulations (S.L.545.01) for charging of electric vehicles in non-residential premises. A summary of the Approved Electric Vehicle Charging Electricity Tariffs may be found on the REWS website, link: https://www.rews.org.mt/#/en/a/13-regulated-electricity-tariffs
No, charging points installed for private use do not need an authorisation under the Publicly Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Regulations (S.L.545.38)
One can apply with ARMS Ltd to install a meter dedicated for the charging of the electric vehicle. In this case, the off-peak tariff applies for the consumption of electricity for the charging of the electric vehicle (EV) during off-peak hours. Any units consumed for EV charging outside the off-peak would be charged at the applicable tariffs cumulatively with the other consumption of one’s residence. More details may be found at: https://www.rews.org.mt/#/en/a/13-regulated-electricity-tariffs
Yes, one may apply with ARMS Ltd to be provided with an EV meter for EV charging in the car space.
Yes, one can apply with ARMS Ltd so that Enemalta plc installs an EV meter for EV charging in the car space.
For a comparison of the average price to drive 100km with an electric vehicle and with a conventional vehicle, check here.
