What is an Eichrecht-compliant CPMS for EV charging? 

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Requirements may vary by charging setup and change over time. Operators should confirm the applicable requirements with qualified advisers before deployment. 

En bref : 

• Eichrecht is Germany’s measurement and calibration framework. For paid EV charging, it helps ensure that the energy billed is measured correctly and can be checked afterwards. 

• A charge point management system (CPMS) supports compliance by preserving meter records, connecting them to billing, and making verification data available. 

• Hardware independence helps you manage different charge point brands through one platform. It does not make non-compliant hardware compliant. 

• Last Mile Solutions supports Eichrecht-related data handling and billing through compatible charge point integrations. Support must be checked for the specific model, firmware, and configuration. 

• Eichrecht and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) address different requirements. Your metering, billing, and payment setup needs to account for both where applicable. 

A driver finishes charging and receives an invoice. The energy charge looks higher than expected. Can they check the meter readings behind it? 

For charge point operators (CPOs), that question brings Eichrecht into everyday operations. It is not enough to record a session and generate a bill. The measurement must be reliable, the charge understandable, and the supporting records available for verification. 

A charge point management system (CPMS) is the software used to manage charge points, charging sessions, and the data that feeds billing. In an Eichrecht-compliant charging setup, it helps preserve the evidence behind the invoice. 

But the software cannot do this alone. Compliance depends on the metering equipment, charge point, software integration, and operating processes working together. 

What is Eichrecht and why does it apply to EV charging? 

Eichrecht is the German Measurement and Calibration Law (Mess- und Eichgesetz, or MessEG). It governs how measuring devices used in commercial transactions must be calibrated and verified. In the context of EV charging, its practical purpose is straightforward: when a measured quantity determines what someone pays, that measurement must be trustworthy. In practice, Eichrecht-compliant charging solutions typically rely on certified measuring equipment, transparent pricing information and verifiable transaction records. 

For paid EV charging in Germany, this means using compliant equipment to measure the electricity supplied, billing the energy transparently in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and allowing the measurement records to be checked afterwards. Additional charges must be shown separately. These principles are set out in the German measurement authority’s guidance for EV charge point operators. 

Digitally signed meter records are a common way to support this verification. A digital signature helps establish whether the signed records have been altered and whether they correspond to the relevant verification key. 

The important distinction is that an accurate meter and a verifiable billing process are connected requirements, not interchangeable ones. Installing the right meter does not remove the need to handle its records correctly. 

Flat-rate or time-based billing alone is not permitted for the energy portion of a session. 

Since April 2019, all new AC and DC charging stations in Germany must meet these requirements. Stations installed before that date had a transition period that ended in April 2023. If your network includes public charging infrastructure in Germany, compliance is mandatory. 

What does Eichrecht require from a CPMS? 

Your CPMS is the backend system connecting your chargers, drivers, and billing processes. Under Eichrecht, it carries specific responsibilities that go beyond standard session management. 

Preserve the original meter records 

In systems that use digitally signed data, the CPMS must receive and retain the relevant records from the charge point without compromising their integrity. 

These records need to remain associated with the correct session and the information required for verification. The exact data fields and formats depend on the approved metering system and integration. 

If a driver queries an invoice, you need access to the records behind it, not just a summary showing that a session took place. 

Connect the measurement to the bill 

The energy quantity used for billing should be traceable to the relevant meter records. 

The CPMS should also support a clear distinction between the kWh-based energy charge and permitted additional charges, such as parking or occupancy fees. Supporting a tariff in software does not automatically make that tariff lawful in every market or charging scenario. 

Make verification data accessible 

Drivers need a practical way to obtain the relevant signed records and public key, which is used to check the digital signature. 

Depending on the provider and system, the records may be available through a customer portal, an application, or on request from the invoice issuer. The CPMS needs to support the data flow behind that access. 

S.A.F.E.’s guidance for EV drivers explains how users can load signed records into compatible transparency software, enter the charge point’s public key, and compare the verification results with their charging invoice.

Why does hardware independence matter for Eichrecht compliance? 

Most CPO networks run chargers from multiple manufacturers. You might have Alfen wallboxes at a workplace location, Kempower DC units at a highway stop, and Compleo stations in an urban area. Each brand has its own firmware, communication protocols, and Eichrecht implementation. 

A hardware-independent CPMS connects to all these brands through standardized protocols like OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol). This means you manage Eichrecht-compliant billing, signed data storage, and driver verification from a single platform, regardless of which charger sits at each site. 

Without hardware independence, you risk running separate backends for different charger brands. That fragments your data, complicates reporting, and multiplies the places where a compliance gap can appear. A single CPMS that works across all your hardware centralizes control and reduces that risk. 

How does Last Mile Solutions handle Eichrecht compliance? 

Last Mile Solutions operates a hardware-independent station management platform with pre-tested integrations for chargers from more than 100 manufacturers. Each integration follows a standardised certification process built on over 20 years of experience connecting charge point models across Europe. 

The platform stores signed transaction data, supports kWh- and time-based tariff structures with granular controls per user type or location, and automates invoicing that separates energy charges from additional fees. For operators managing networks in Germany, this means Eichrecht-related data handling and billing are covered from one environment. 

On the hardware certification page, each charger model includes a specific “Eichrecht Compliant” status, making it straightforward to verify whether a station in your network meets the requirements before you deploy it. 

Does Eichrecht apply to workplace and home charging? 

The location alone does not determine the answer. What matters is how measured energy is used for billing, reimbursement, or other commercial purposes. 

Paid workplace charging: If employees are billed for the electricity they use, the metering and billing setup needs to meet the applicable requirements. 

Free workplace charging: Genuinely free charging may fall outside the relevant measurement-based billing requirements. However, “free to the employee” does not settle every case. If measured consumption is used for internal billing, reimbursement, or cost allocation, check the arrangement before assuming an exemption. 

Private home charging: A home charge point used solely for personal charging is different from one used to support employer reimbursement. 

For employer reimbursement of home charging, the German tax framework changed from 2026. Documented charging quantities remain necessary; an official per-kWh electricity price is a pricing method, not a substitute for measuring the electricity used. Under specified conditions, a permanently installed, dedicated, conforming meter, such as a suitable meter assessed under the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID), may be sufficient for an employer–employee reimbursement arrangement. 

Because tax treatment and measurement-law requirements are separate questions, employers should check both. The German measurement authority’s EV charging page links to the AGME guidance on home-charging reimbursement. 

How can drivers verify their charging session? 

Verification gives the driver a way to check the records behind the energy charge. 

Using signed session data, the relevant public key, and compatible transparency software, they can check the signature and compare the authenticated meter readings with the energy quantity used for billing. 

A valid signature provides evidence that the signed data has not been altered since signing and corresponds to the relevant key. It does not, by itself, prove that the physical measurement was perfect or that every tariff and invoice item is correct. 

That is why Eichrecht relies on both compliant metering equipment and verifiable records. 

For CPOs, the operational takeaway is simple: preserve the original records and make sure they can be retrieved when needed. A session summary is useful for reporting, but it is not a replacement for the underlying verification data. 

What role does AFIR play alongside Eichrecht? 

While Eichrecht is a German national law, it operates alongside the European Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). Since April 2024, AFIR requires that all new public DC chargers above 50 kW in the EU include a payment terminal for direct card payments. 

Both regulations share a common goal: making charging transparent and accessible for drivers. However, they address different aspects. Eichrecht governs measurement accuracy and data integrity. AFIR focuses on payment accessibility and infrastructure deployment. 

For publicly accessible charge points deployed from 13 April 2024, AFIR sets requirements for ad-hoc electronic payments. At charge points with a power output of 50 kW or more, this includes a payment card reader or a contactless device capable of reading payment cards. Below 50 kW, secure internet-based payment methods may also be used. One payment terminal or device can serve multiple charge points within a charging pool. 

The requirements for existing infrastructure depend on the installation and location. The European Commission’s AFIR questions and answers explain these distinctions. 

For operators, this means checking the whole site configuration, not expecting the CPMS alone to satisfy both frameworks.  

How to choose an Eichrecht-compliant CPMS 

Start with the hardware and charging scenarios you actually operate. Then ask the platform provider to demonstrate how a session moves from measurement to invoice and verification. 

Useful questions include: 

• Is this exact charge point model and firmware supported for the intended use? 

• Does the platform preserve the original signed meter records? 

• Can the billed energy quantity be traced back to those records? 

• How do drivers obtain the data and public key needed for verification? 

• How are additional charges displayed? 

• Does the direct-payment workflow preserve the same access to verification records? 

• What happens to those records if you change hardware or migrate platforms? 

The strongest answer is not a blanket promise of compliance, but a clear explanation of the supported configuration, its limitations, and the responsibilities of each party. 

Planning paid EV charging in Germany? Get in touch with Last Mile Solutions to discuss your charge point models, billing requirements, and verification workflow. 

FAQs about Eichrecht-compliant CPMS 

What is the difference between MID certification and Eichrecht compliance? 

MID certification covers the electricity meter itself, confirming it measures accurately according to EU standards. Eichrecht goes further: it requires that metering data is securely stored and handled in a way that allows the billed energy quantity to be independently verified by the driver.

Can I use non-Eichrecht-compliant chargers in Germany? 

Only in scenarios where charging is free, such as complimentary workplace charging. If you bill drivers for electricity at a public or semi-public station, the charger and your CPMS must both comply. Non-compliant paid charging exposes you to regulatory penalties. 

Does Last Mile Solutions support Eichrecht for both AC and DC chargers? 

Yes. Last Mile Solutions certifies and integrates both AC and DC charger models from more than 100 manufacturers. The hardware integration page lists each model’s Eichrecht compliance status so you can confirm support before deployment. 

Will Eichrecht-like regulations expand to other European countries? 

Eichrecht is specific to Germany, but its principles are influencing discussions in other EU markets. With AFIR setting Europe-wide payment and infrastructure standards, regulators in several countries are considering similar metering and billing transparency rules. 

How does a hardware-independent CPMS reduce compliance risk? 

A hardware-independent CPMS centralises signed data storage, billing, and verification across all charger brands in one platform. Last Mile Solutions gives you a single environment to monitor compliance across your entire network, instead of managing separate systems for each hardware vendor.