Negotiators from the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached, late into the night of Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 March, a provisional political agreement on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure (‘AFIR’) (see EUROPE 13133/8).
“Alternative and sustainable fuels and deploying the right infrastructure are key in the transition to a climate-neutral Europe. The new rules will help to roll out the infrastructure for alternative fuels without further delay and ensure that driving and charging a new generation car is as simple and convenient as one that depends on petrol”, said the European Parliament rapporteur, Ismail Ertug (S&D, German).
In concrete terms, the co-legislators agreed that charging points for electric vehicles should be installed every 60 kilometres on the core trans-European transport network (TEN-T) by 2025. This provision will be extended to the overall TEN-T in 2030.
These charging parks should provide a cumulative power of at least 400 kW by 2026 and 600 kW by 2028. In this respect, the European Parliament has obtained from the Council of the EU a review of its position on charging capacity per electric car. Each Member State will thus be obligated to provide - per electric car registered on its territory - the equivalent of 1.3 kW of charging power through a publicly accessible infrastructure.
“If these goals are implemented as planned, the fear of not reaching the destination will no longer play a role. For this, we have pushed through significantly higher targets. Thirty percent more power output per registered electric car: that is something to be proud of and a great success for the Parliament”, said Jens Gieseke (EPP, German).
Hydrogen stations more widely spaced than planned for the European Parliament
For heavy goods vehicles, the deadline is 2028, by which time charging facilities must be no more than 120 kilometres apart on the central TEN-T. Depending on the context and the roads concerned, the charging stations will have to provide a total power of between 1,400 kW and 2,800 kW.
In addition, the rules have also been rediscussed on hydrogen refuelling stations. On this point, the Parliament has revised its position and accepted that stations should be installed at least every 200 kilometres by 2028, as opposed to the 100 kilometres it had planned at the beginning of the trilogues (see EUROPE 13046/12).
Finally, the text validates the existence of exemptions and differentiated treatment for the outermost regions, islands and roads with very low traffic density.
Standardisation of means of payment
The issue of payment has also been a priority for the European Parliament and has been an important issue in trilogues. The provisional political agreement foresees the possibility to pay by card, contactless devices or a QR code. The information should be easily accessible and comparable. Prices should be displayed per kilowatt hour.
For its part, the European Commission will be responsible for setting up a European database on alternative fuel data by 2027. This will have to provide consumers with information on availability, waiting times or prices at the various stations.
“The Greens have fought hard for much better conditions for consumer protection”, said Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg (Greens/EFA, German).
A gradual evolution in airports
In addition, the text also revisits the rules and requirements for the deployment of infrastructure in the maritime and aviation fields. Ports hosting at least 50 calls per year by large passenger ships - or 100 calls by container ships - will have to provide these ships with shore-side electricity by 2030.
On the airport side, it will become mandatory in 2025 to provide clean electricity at all gates for stationary aircraft. This provision will be extended to all locations where aircraft are parked in 2030. On the other hand, some MEPs, such as the European Parliament’s Chair of the Committee on Transport, Karima Delli (Greens/EFA, French), regretted that no provision was made for private aviation.
“The text is not perfect, however, and battles have been lost. And the European Parliament’s position is not fully reflected in a compromise logic”, she said.
The railway sector, which has long been outside the scope, is finally being addressed. With 54% of the EU’s lines electrified, Member States will have the task of encouraging the development of alternative engines to diesel by 2026.
The provisional political agreement reached by the co-legislators will now have to be formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. It will enter into force 6 months after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)