Emission Reduction Units: why electric charging yields more than just sustainable kilometers

The energy transition is changing faster than ever. Electric driving is growing rapidly, legislation is developing, and new systems are emerging to stimulate sustainability. One of those developments is the introduction of Emission Reduction Units (ERUs).

Since January 1, 2026, this scheme has been in effect in the Netherlands, based on the European RED III directive (Renewable Energy Directive III). This creates a new mechanism that does something interesting: it directly links the growth of electric driving to a financial return for those who drive sustainably.

But what does this concretely mean for business drivers, fleet operators, individuals with a charging station, and organizations that are making their mobility more sustainable?

Why this regulation exists

The European Union has set ambitious climate goals. Transport is one of the sectors where there is still much CO₂ reduction to be achieved. Electric driving helps with this, but the European legislator also wants to make the effect of that reduction measurable and tradable.

That's why emission reduction units have been introduced. The principle is simple:

• Electric driving prevents CO₂ emissions

• That avoided emissions are recorded in ERU certificates

• Fuel suppliers (oil companies) must buy these certificates to continue selling gasoline and diesel

In other words: the polluter pays and the sustainability leader is rewarded. The result is a system that accelerates the energy transition without the government having to directly issue subsidies.

What this means for the business driver

For companies with electric cars and charging points, a new value component arises in their mobility.

Every kilowatt-hour charged can be converted into emission reduction units. Those units are then sold to parties that need them to meet their obligations.

In practice, this means:

• Earn approximately €0.10 per charged kWh – a direct yield per charged kilowatt-hour

• For a business driver, the earnings can amount to €800 per year.

Technical requirement: MID meter To claim ERUs, the charging station must have a certified MID meter (Measuring Instruments Directive). Older or simple charging stations without this meter do not qualify for the scheme.

Interestingly, this not only provides a financial yield, but also an additional argument in sustainability reports. The CO₂ reduction is demonstrably recorded.

What this means for fleet operators

For fleet operators, the impact goes a step further. Where individual drivers benefit per charging point, there is suddenly a structural value from charging data in fleets.

An example:

A fleet of 10 electric trucks with annual consumption of 120,000 kWh per vehicle could generate around €120,000 in ERU value per year. For larger fleets, this amount quickly increases.

For fleet operators, this means three important things:

• A new revenue stream from existing mobility: The vehicles are already driving electric. The value was already there, it just wasn't monetized yet.

• Extra return on charging infrastructure: Companies are increasingly investing in charging squares, depot charging, or home charging for employees. With ERUs, the business case for this infrastructure becomes directly stronger.

• Support for ESG and CSRD reporting: The CO₂ reduction is officially registered and validated. This makes it easier to demonstrate sustainable mobility to shareholders, customers, and regulators.

For many fleet operators, ERUs become an interesting link between sustainability, data, and financial returns.

And for the private EV driver?

Until recently, this scheme only applied to public charging points. With the new legislation, home charging points are now also allowed. This means that private EV drivers who charge at home can now also benefit from the value of their sustainable kilometers.

Many EV drivers do not yet realize this. Their charging station already does the work; only the value of the saved CO₂ is not always utilized. By registering and certifying the charging volume, a small but interesting income stream suddenly arises from something you're already doing: charging your car.

Why this moment is interesting

ERUs represent a broader movement in the energy market: energy is being used more dynamically and intelligently. Electric driving, dynamic energy contracts, smart load control, and energy trading are increasingly interwoven. When you combine these elements, it can make a significant difference in total energy costs.

The ERU yield – about €0.10 per charged kWh – covers part of your energy costs. Combined with smart load control and a dynamic energy contract, this offers EV drivers and companies an attractive package to get more value from their sustainable choices.

The role of Maxem

Although the principle sounds simple, there is a lot of administration and certification behind registering emission reduction units. Data must be validated, charging volumes must be registered, and certificates must be issued and sold correctly. That's where the role of a knowledge partner comes in.

At Maxem, we have been working with similar systems around HBE certificates for sustainable energy for years. From that experience, we provide the necessary technical charging data to our specialized booking partner, who then takes care of the registration and certification process with the Dutch Emission Authority (NEa).

Specifically, Maxem ensures:

• Providing the raw charging data and kWh readings of connected charging points

• Facilitating the link that securely transfers data to the booking partner

• Keeping and storing the administrative history of charging sessions

No administrative burden for you. Is your charging station connected to Maxem's CPMS? Then you don't need to do anything. The charging data is automatically forwarded from our system to our booking partner. No manual exports, no separate registrations – the ERUs are simply monetized for you.

The goal is simple: to ensure that as a charging station owner, you not only drive sustainably but also actually benefit from the value you create.

A small change with a big impact

ERUs may not be a topic that every EV driver thinks about daily. However, this scheme beautifully shows how the energy transition is developing. Sustainable behavior is increasingly becoming part of a smart energy market where data, mobility, and energy converge.

And this is precisely where we see the real opportunity: not only to make sustainable choices but also to create value from those choices. For many EV drivers, it simply starts with their own charging station.

“With ERE's, we make the business case for your charging infrastructure immediately stronger and validate your CO₂ reduction.” Philip Busscher Business Developer

“With ERE's, we make the business case for your charging infrastructure immediately stronger and validate your CO₂ reduction.”