MEPs on the European Parliament’s Transport Committee (TRAN) discussed on Monday 15 November a study by the EU’s Directorate-General for Internal Policies on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure for heavy goods vehicles in the EU (see EUROPE 12807/6).
In concrete terms, the study puts forward a figure of 17,314 electric charging points and 728 hydrogen stations needed along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) to meet needs.
This figure, the authors of the study conceded, might be “a little low”, while other studies, conducted by the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) and the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), put forward figures of 42,000 and 85,000 charging points respectively.
In terms of capacity, the document also stresses the need to deliver higher charging powers, assuming a combined power available at the charging points within the TEN-T of 500 kWh, instead of the 300 kWh recommended by the Commission.
Similarly, according to the study’s findings, the power should be increased within urban nodes from 150 kWh to 350 kWh.
These available amounts of energy would, among other things, make it possible to match “the vehicle’s recharging time with the restrictive rest period” to which lorry drivers are subject, the study’s authors said.
Moreover, they also warned, “there is little time left for testing and revision of national policies between now and 2030 and the timetable may need to be adjusted” in terms of implementation.
Following the presentation of the study, several MEPs, such as S&D MEP Kathleen Van Brempt (Belgium), called for the needs of drivers—and employees in the sector—to be taken into account in future discussions. “This is a crucial point for our group”, she summarised.
In addition, several members of the TRAN Committee also questioned the coherence of a purely distance-based approach to the location of charging infrastructure.
“Neglecting this approach may entail some risks. We need these technologies, but some targets, based only on distance, may be inefficient”, said Jakop Dalunde (Greens/EFA, Sweden).
Finally, for some elected representatives, such as Caroline Nagtegaal-van Doorn (Renew Europe, the Netherlands), it is also important to include the automotive sector and motorway operators in the debate.
See the study: https://bit.ly/30pC0PC (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)