Competition analysis of the electric vehicle recharging market across the EU27 + the UK : market for the provision of publicly accessible recharging infrastructure and related services : extended executive summary

This report evaluates potential competition issues in the provision of publicly accessible recharging infrastructure and related services for electric vehicles (EVs) across the EU27 + UK. It develops a taxonomy of possible competition concerns and collates evidence on whether there are existing or potential future anticompetitive effects. It begins with a background on the EV public recharging sector evolution, industry dynamics, regulatory initiatives, and public support. It provides an overview of the sector value chain, participants, business models, and pricing structures. A taxonomy of possible competition concerns around unilateral and coordinated conducts, and potentially public funding distortive effects is then developed. Lastly, an in-depth assessment is conducted for a broadly representative subset of countries (Ireland, Italy, Croatia and Belgium) to assess whether there is prima facie evidence of anticompetitive effects. Overall, the analysis highlights a significant level of heterogeneity across the region both in the evolution and current state of development of the sector. Although a range of competition concerns are relevant as the sector evolves, no evidence was uncovered of major competitive concerns in the current state of the sector. Evidence instead supports that countries exhibiting higher levels of concentration are generally markets in early phase and in expansion.