Socialist Party MPs propose review of electric mobility regime in Parliament

The Socialist Party has submitted a request for parliamentary consideration of the legislation that defines a new electric mobility regime , which was approved this summer by the Government, in the Council of Ministers .

The request for parliamentary consideration, submitted this Monday, aims to open for discussion in Parliament the diploma that defines the new electric mobility regime, which was approved by the Government at the Council of Ministers on July 31st and published in the Official Gazette on August 14th.

According to MP Pedro Vaz, the objective of the PS parliamentary group with this assessment is to amend the legislation , since, despite several disagreements, there are some points that are considered positive, such as the provision of alternative electronic payment methods at electric charging points, whether QR Code or bank card.

" We believe that the electric mobility regime must continue to be simplified and that there are still several challenges to overcome. However, the solutions to the problems already identified are not those contained in the new legal regime ," the socialists write in the text of the request.

“Regression”, less competition and cost increases

In the same document, the deputies warn that the new legislation " could represent a setback in an already highly competitive and advanced national ecosystem that is an international benchmark ." In Portugal, according to data from Mobi.E cited by the deputies, there are more than 6,000 charging stations, corresponding to more than 11,200 public charging points, while the electric vehicle fleet has been "constantly" growing: in 2024, more than 40,000 electric cars were sold (representing 25% of total sales).

For the PS, mandatory interoperability between charging point operators (OPC) and electricity suppliers for electric mobility (CEME), provided for in the previous regime (from 2010), “has been one of the foundations of the success of electric mobility in Portugal”, as it “ensures that any user, with a single contract, can access the entire public charging network”.

Thus, " eliminating this interoperability carries the risk of market fragmentation and degradation of the end-user experience, compromising competition and the overall efficiency of the system," the party concludes. In fact, " it is very likely that these changes will result in increased costs for users and reduced competition ."

In contrast, in the introduction to the decree-law that is being submitted for parliamentary consideration, the current government states that it is "committed to market liberalization, ensuring universal access to all charging points." It hopes that this regime will make the electric mobility model "simpler, more flexible, more transparent, more competitive, and accessible," in addition to aligning it with European regulations .

Once the request is submitted, the Socialist Party's parliamentary group must schedule a plenary discussion in one of the next 15 sessions, otherwise, it will lapse. For now, the new regime is still in a transitional phase: to avoid disruptions in the transition from a centralized to a liberalized regime, the decree establishes a transitional regime until December 31, 2026.

But what does the new regime say?

One of the most structural changes foreseen in the new regime is the elimination of the figure responsible for the centralized management of the electric mobility network , a role previously performed by Mobi.E. Service providers will be able to establish their own networks of charging points, without the need for mandatory connection to a common network.

The new system will also allow electricity to flow not only from stations to electric cars, but also vice versa—an electric vehicle can lend electricity to the grid—known as bidirectional charging. In parallel, it will be possible to charge electric vehicles without having a contract with a retailer , using methods such as a bank card or QR Code.

Charging point operators will also be able to rely on self-consumption solutions to power their stations. Finally, the new regime "promotes administrative simplification in access to charging point operations," establishing a system of prior notification and tacit approval . This places the responsibility on the economic operators, with the State then responsible for oversight, in order to expedite the start of operations.

Industry players interviewed by ECO/Capital Verde are divided in their assessment of the preliminary document : although allowing self-consumption at charging points is a consensual positive point, as is the provision of automatic payment terminals, the potential effects on prices, competition and network growth are seen as both merits by some and weaknesses by others.