EU Alternative Fuel Infra. Deployment Targets Established - EV & Hydrogen

The European Cimmission recently announced a package of measures to reform the EU's climate, energy, land use, transportation, and taxation policies in order to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Attaining this emission goal is critical if Europe is to become the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

Under this package, a new Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Deployment Regulation (AFIR) has been established to set mandatory deployment targets for electric recharging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. The primary deployment targets that have to be met by 2025 or 2030 are as highlighted below;

• Private use vehicles charging infrastructure must expand at the same rate as vehicle adoption. In lay-mans terms, there has to be additional publicly accessible charging infrastructure with a power output of 1.3 kW made available for every battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registered. Additionally, fast charging stations (DC Chargers) with output of at least 150 kW must be made available every 60 kilometres along the trans-European transport (TEN-T) network beginning in 2025.

  
  

• As for heavy-duty electric vehicles, charging stations with a minimum output of 350 kW must also be made available every 60 km along the TEN-T core network and every 100 km along the broader TEN-T network beginning in 2025, with full network coverage completion by 2030. Additionally, charging facilities for these vehicles must be established in safe and secure parking locations for overnight recharging.

  
  

• The EU Commission also recognizes hydrogen vehicles as an equal to EV hence beginning 2030, hydrogen refuelling infrastructure that is capable of serving both cars and trucks must be set up in all urban intersections and at every 200 km along the TEN-T core network. 

  
  

• Vehicle “refuelling” charges and location data for both electric and hydrogen stations must be made transparent and electronically available to ensure customers are well informed on the rates they would be required to pay. Also mode of payments need to be widened with provision to accept the conventional mode of payment such as debit or credit card. 

  
  

These new regulations will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force following a 6-month transition period.