Brussels, 15/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - The DG MOVE at the European Commission is expected to present, by the end of the year, an initiative on alternative fuels including natural liquefied gas. Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas shed a little light on this during his speech delivered on Wednesday 14 November at the annual conference of the Scania automobile group. He announced a comprehensive strategy in this field, explaining: “This initiative will develop a sustainable alternative fuel strategy for the EU. It will propose legislation on developing infrastructure, and also give a clear and coherent vision for helping to rollout alternative transport fuels”. Natural liquefied gas should have a “key role” in the next initiative, he tweeted. Review of vehicle weights and measures would be part of the package, above all with a view to improving the effectiveness of heavy goods vehicles through streamlining. On this subject, the commissioner was careful not to mention the controversial subject of gigaliners.
The commissioner is convinced the new Commission proposal comes in a context where total dependence on oil as a source of energy for transport results in consumer hesitation to buy alternative vehicles given the lack of adequate infrastructure for recharging or refuelling. Support for less energy-guzzling vehicles would contribute to industry's competitiveness, to job creation and to a green economy - all objectives under the EUROPE 2020 strategy - the transport commissioner is also pleased to state. (MD/transl.jl)