Adapting to E-mobility regulation

What is E-mobility?

E-mobility is at the forefront of the global transition to reduce carbon emissions and adopt sustainable transport solutions. As electric vehicles (EVs) and related technologies become increasingly prevalent, understanding and navigating the regulatory landscape is crucial for businesses involved in this dynamic international sector.

E-mobility, or electric mobility, refers to the shift towards electric-powered transportation in various forms, including cars, buses, trains, e-bikes, scooters, and drones. It also encompasses the development of supporting infrastructure such as EV charging stations, advancements in battery technology, connectivity integration, and upgrading electricity grids to meet the higher demand from vehicle charging. E-mobility aims to provide innovative mobility solutions through app-based transport, ride-hailing platforms, connected electric vehicles, as-a-service models, and mobility hubs in urban and suburban centres.

With the rapid evolution of E-mobility technology and it's uses, new legislation and government policies are continually emerging. Efficiently navigating these legal obligations requires specialist advice to ensure compliance and to leverage opportunities for growth. 

What you need to know now

The shift to E-mobility is accelerating, with new regulations shaping the landscape, particularly at the EU level. Despite the growing electric mobility market, there are still significant legal and policy barriers globally. These evolving regulations will significantly impact EV manufacturers, chargepoint operators, major property developers, and local authorities.

Key regulatory areas include:

• Interoperability issues: Different regions have varying standards and regulations for vehicle safety, energy, environmental, and product regulation.
• EV sector regulation: This includes targets for the rollout of EV chargepoints, price transparency, and standardised payment systems.
• Transparency and compliance: Ensuring transparency and regulatory compliance, particularly regarding environmental credentials, to avoid greenwashing.
• Consumer regulatory interfaces: Protecting user data, payments regulation, and consumer protection.
• Competition laws: Navigating issues like access to essential facilities or data, anti-competitive agreements, subsidy control, and state aid.
• Cybersecurity: Protecting user data and ensuring cybersecurity.
• Incoming regulations: Addressing new and extensive regulations, such as GSR II new active safety technologies, charging regulation, product, data, payments, consumer, and environmental regulation.

How we can help you

Our international lawyers work with clients across the entire E-mobility lifecycle. We can help you navigate the regulatory landscape, identify opportunities and overcome challenges.

Our approach is collaborative and creative. We work closely with EV manufacturers, chargepoint operators, local authorities, and other stakeholders to explore the regulatory issues associated with E-mobility. Our expertise spans various areas, including power generation, transport, and industrial processes.

We offer capabilities across diverse legal workstreams and jurisdictions, providing a breadth and depth of expertise that few firms can match.

Additionally, we have extensive experience and can offer expert advice on how to deploy EVs and the infrastructure that supports them.

We provide tailored services for different client types within the E-mobility sector:

• EV manufacturers: Evaluating market opportunities, market analysis/entry, product liability and health & safety, regulatory investigations, environmental compliance, and utility law.
• Chargepoint operators:  Complex contracting and project delivery, evaluating market opportunity, market analysis/entry, regulatory investigations, environmental compliance, and utility law.
• Investors and property developers / occupiers: Corporate M&A, joint ventures (JVs), fundraising and ownership models, structures and "as a service" solutions, IP strategy, licensing agreements, energy supply and planning law.
• Local authorities / municipalities: Complex procurements, E-mobility strategy, supplier contracts, and regulatory risks and compliance.