The European Parliament is calling for the construction of electric vehicle charging stations every 60 km and hydrogen filling stations every 100 km so that the EU can become climate neutral.

The European Parliament has approved its position on the draft EU regulation on the development of charging and filling stations with alternative fuels (eg hydrogen) for cars, trucks, trains and aircraft, as well as on the use of environmentally friendly vehicles. The new rules are part of the Fit for 55 package, the EU’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% from 1990 levels by 2030.

More charging stations and supply stations

MEPs have agreed to set minimum mandatory national targets for the development of alternative fuel infrastructure, under which Member States will have to submit their plans to achieve these targets by 2024.

According to the adopted text, by 2026 there should be at least one electric car charging station along the main EU roads by 2026. The same requirement will apply to trucks and buses, but only on central trans-European route networks and with more powerful stations. According to the final text and the corresponding official announcement, there will be some exceptions for the most remote regions, islands and roads with minimal traffic.

The EP also proposes to create more hydrogen filling stations along the EU’s main roads (every 100 km, not every 150 km as proposed by the European Commission) and complete the project faster (by 2028 instead of 2031).

Simplified charging

Alternative gas stations should serve all vehicles, regardless of manufacturer, and payment should be easy. They will still have to list prices per kilowatt-hour (kWh) or per kilogram, which “should be affordable and comparable.”

MEPs also want “by 2027, the EU has a common alternative fuel data platform that will provide information on availability, waiting times and prices at various stations across Europe.”

Sustainable fuel for shipping

The European Parliament approved its position on the draft EU rules on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport.

The European Parliament wants “the shipping sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 2% from 2025, 20% from 2035 and 80% from 2050 compared to 2020 levels.” (The European Commission has proposed cuts of 13% and 75%).

The measures will apply to ships over 5,000 gross tonnage, which are in principle responsible for 90% of carbon dioxide emissions, for all energy used on board ships in or between EU ports, and for 50% of the energy used on board when the port of departure or port of call is outside the EU or its outermost regions.”

MEPs also “set a 2% target for renewable fuel use and oblige container ships and passenger ships to use shore-based electricity while docked at major EU ports from 2030, which will significantly reduce air pollution,” as highlighted in a related statement. .

The European Parliament, “in order to enforce the rules, advocates the introduction of fines”, while “the revenues generated should go to the Ocean Fund and contribute to the decarbonization of the shipping sector, energy efficiency and zero-emission engines.” technology”.

EP Rapporteur on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Ismail Ertug (Socialists, Germany) said: “We currently have 377,000 charging stations in the EU, but this is half the target that would have been reached if the EU countries had kept their promises. We need to decarbonize and quickly develop alternative fuel infrastructure to save the green deal.

European Parliament Rapporteur on sustainable use of marine fuels Jørgen Warborn (EPP, Sweden) stressed: “This is by far the most ambitious way to decarbonise maritime transport. Parliament’s position ensures that our climate goals are met quickly and efficiently, ensuring on the one hand the competitiveness of the shipping sector, and on the other hand, the absence of the so-called carbon leakage and loss of jobs.”

The negotiating mandate for the development of infrastructure for alternative fuels was approved by 485 votes to 65, with 80 abstentions, and for sustainable marine fuel by 451 votes to 137, with 54 abstentions.

The European Parliament is now ready to start negotiations with Member States.

Source: RES – OIE