Brussels, 24/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Commission hopes to break the vicious circle that is preventing alternative fuels such as electricity, natural gas and hydrogen from being used to their full potential. On Thursday 24 January, it proposed a strategy to establish binding objectives for charging and refuelling stations, and common standards. The estimated cost of developing adequate infrastructure is €10.5 billion by 2020, to be met by member states.
An opportunity to be seized. The Commission bases its argument on a simple equation: European transport is 94% dependent on mostly imported oil and must reduce its CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050. The technology for alternative fuels is “mature” but the market is not following suit. A vicious circle is at play - there are not sufficient refuelling/charging points, as there are not enough vehicles using alternative fuels as such cars are costly and consumer demand is low. The Commission hopes to break this spiral through a coordinated European approach which would also be a “golden opportunity” for gaining a competitive market position, argued Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas, in light of the 6 million electric cars that China and the United States hope to have in circulation by 2020. He also hopes that European objectives will trigger investment which, in turn, will also prove profitable.
Strategy by 2020. In order to kick-start the European market, the Commission has therefore fine-tuned a “clean fuel” strategy, i.e. a communication on the action plan, a directive setting out objectives for refuelling infrastructure (2020), and interoperable standards (2015), as well as a document with forward projection for the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in shipping (2025). The strategy therefore does not only concern the road sector.
The Commission has focused on three kinds of fuel, placing to one side biofuels, LPG and synthetic fuels that would not require specific infrastructure.
Quotas for three fuels. Emphasis has largely been placed on electricity. The Commission has established a minimum number of charging points to be built for each country, at least 10% of which should be accessible to the public. By the end of this decade, there should be some 800,000 refuelling points in Europe, i.e. 150,000 in Germany and around 125,000 in Italy and in the United Kingdom, for example. Also, the Commission gives preference to a single kind of plug (type 2) to harmonise refuelling (see related article).
With regard to hydrogen, the Commission is also counting on having a substantial refuelling network. There should be a refuelling point every 300 kilometres at most. Common standards have still to be developed. For LNG, the Commission plans to impose a refuelling point in 139 shipping ports and inland waterway ports that make up the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) by 2020, i.e. in 10% of European ports. Standards should be adopted within two years from now. The use of LNG in road transport only concerns heavy goods vehicles. The Commission is banking on having recharging/refuelling stations for this fuel every 400 km. For natural gas, used mainly for vehicles, public stations should be in place every 150 km. Standards for natural gas have still to be established.
EU27 will have to swallow the pill. The development of all this alternative infrastructure will not be without financial consequences. The Commission predicts that, by 2020, work will cost €10.5 billion to be met by member states. The Commission, however, bases its arguments on the principle that member states may do this effectively by using private investment. It considers that public expenditure is not necessary to attain these objectives. In order to fuel its strategy, it is also authorising bringing in tax incentives or tendering incentives. (MD/transl.jl)