Austrian Federal Roads Act amended: EV charging targets by 2030 and new override of roadside exclusivity clauses
Amendments to the Federal Roads Act 1971 (Bundesstraßengesetz 1971) set binding targets for deploying electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure along federal roads by 31 December 2030 and allow contractual exclusivity zones that obstruct the rollout to be overridden. A compensation mechanism protects businesses whose existing exclusivity rights are affected.
What changed
New § 9 requires EV charging for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (classes M1/N1) at average intervals of 25 km (max 50 km) on federal listed roads by 31 December 2030. For heavy vehicles (classes M2, M3, N2, N3), the average target is 40 km — max 60 km on TEN-V core-network roads and max 100 km elsewhere on the federal road network. Wherever EV charging infrastructure is built, sanitary facilities, vending machines (drinks and snacks), and rest areas should also be provided (§ 7(8)).
Who is affected
All motorists and freight operators using federal roads will benefit from expanded charging infrastructure. Roadside businesses (service stations, rest stops, etc.) must treat EV charging operators as a regulated peer category also requiring federal road authority approval, as charging infrastructure has been explicitly added to the list of regulated roadside facilities (§ 27). Landowners near planned federal road zones may also be affected by expanded planning-zone provisions (§ 14) covering expansion measures and new operational installations.
What to look out for
Under new § 20b, businesses holding contractual exclusivity zones (Schutzzonen / Konkurrenzklauseln) for EV charging may have those rights overridden where necessary to meet the 2030 targets. Affected businesses can claim compensation for investments made in the last 5 years before BGBl. I Nr. 78/2026 — first in writing to the federal road authority (Bundesstraßenverwaltung), with 6 months for settlement; if unresolved, a court claim must be filed within 1 year of the initial filing. The overall limitation period is 3 years from commissioning, and further claims against the federal government are excluded.