On Wednesday 10 May, professionals explained how the data from the European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO) is useful to them, during a webinar organised by the European Association for Electromobility (AVERE). However, they identified a number of areas for improvement, particularly in view of the ‘AFIR’ regulation.
Launched in 2015 by the European Commission, the EAFO is an information tool on alternative fuels. Stakeholders can find, for example, data on vehicles and infrastructure as well as information on public incentives and legislation. This tool also provides analyses to the Commission.
The EAFO is therefore an essential database for the implementation of the ‘AFIR’ regulation on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure, which was the subject of an Interinstitutional Agreement at the end of March (see EUROPE 13171/37). The agreement foresees the installation of charging points for electric vehicles every 60 kilometres on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) central network by 2025, as well as charging parks capable of supplying at least 400 kW by 2026 and 600 kW by 2028.
Roderick van den Berg, director of Eco Movement, a provider of data on charging points for electric vehicles, explained how his company uses EAFO data. For example, the company categorises data according to charging speed or public accessibility in order to guide its customers, who are navigation specialists, map developers or fleet owners.
“Comparing EAFO figures can reveal discrepancies, especially between countries or sources of information”, he said. In his view, collaboration with industry players and greater transparency will help to get an accurate picture of the charging infrastructure.
According to Máté Csukás, from the zero-emission mobility consultancy and business development company FIER Automotive, “the portal needs to be expanded and further developed in terms of content and user functionality”. Reliable data and information should be provided as well as current issues, including the latest updates on EU legislation, and also specified for the different target groups.
Public accessibility will be more visible on the EAFO, according to Kai Tullius, policy officer in the European Commission's Directorate-General for Transport (DG MOVE). Initially, this criterion was used to distinguish between places that were accessible to all audiences and those that were more private. Indeed, some car manufacturers have built their own networks.
“We don’t make the distinction between semi-public and public”, confirmed Tullius. But “making this extra separation between the two might actually be useful because for the user it makes a difference if a parking is actually available to everybody and not just to clients of a restaurant”, he conceded. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)