Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure

2021/0223(COD)

PURPOSE: to set out new mandatory national targets for the deployment of sufficient alternative fuels infrastructure in the EU, for road vehicles, vessels and stationary aircraft.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: Directive 2014/94/EU on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure sets out a framework of common measures for the deployment of such infrastructure in the EU. It requires Member States to set up national policy frameworks to establish markets for alternative fuels and ensure that an appropriate number of publicly accessible recharging and refuelling points is put in place, particularly also to enable free cross-border circulation of such vehicles and vessels on the TEN-T network. However, there are shortcomings to the current policy framework.

There is no detailed and binding methodology for Member States to calculate targets and adopt measures, their level of ambition in target setting and supporting policies in place varies greatly. A comprehensive and complete network of alternative fuels infrastructure does not exist across the EU.

Therefore, this new initiative seeks to ensure the availability and usability of a dense, widespread network of alternative fuels infrastructure throughout the EU. All users of alternative fuel vehicles (including vessels and aircraft) need to be able to move through the EU at ease, enabled by key infrastructure such as motorways, ports and airports.

The European Green Deal launched a new growth strategy for the EU that aims to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy. The ‘European Climate Law’ has made the EU's climate neutrality target by 2050 legally binding.

The Commission has presented a complementary and interconnected set of proposals as part of the 2030 Climate and Energy ‘Fit for 55’ package to achieve the greenhouse gas emission reduction target of at least 55% compared to 1990. This ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package is the most comprehensive building block in the efforts to implement the ambitious new 2030 climate target, and all economic sectors and policies will need to make their contribution.

CONTENT: under this proposal, the Commission sets up a new Regulation repealing the current Directive 2014/94/EU on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure. The new Regulation:

- lays down provisions for the rollout of certain recharging and refuelling infrastructure for light- and heavy-duty road transport vehicles, vessels and aircraft;

- sets out provisions for Member States to ensure minimum coverage of publicly accessible recharging points dedicated to light- and heavy-duty road transport vehicles on their territory, including on the TEN-T core and comprehensive network. To ensure that drivers are able to charge or fuel their vehicles at a reliable network across Europe, the proposed Regulation will require Member States to expand charging capacity in line with zero-emission car sales, and to install charging and fuelling points at regular intervals on major highways: every 60 kilometres for electric charging and every 150 kilometres for hydrogen refuelling;

- provides further provisions for ensuring user-friendliness of recharging infrastructure. This includes provisions on payment options, price transparency and consumer information, non-discriminatory practices, smart recharging, and signposting rules for electricity supply to recharging points;

- provides further provisions for ensuring user-friendliness of refuelling infrastructure for hydrogen, including through minimum requirements on payment options, price transparency and contractual choice;

- contains provisions for Member States to ensure until 1 January 2025 minimum coverage of publicly accessible refuelling points for liquefied natural gas dedicated to heavy-duty vehicles on the TEN-T core and comprehensive network;

- sets out provisions for Member States to ensure installation of a minimum shore-side electricity supply for certain seagoing ships in maritime ports and for inland waterway vessels;

- requires Member States to ensure an appropriate number of LNG refuelling points in maritime TEN-T ports and to identify relevant ports through their national policy frameworks;

- concerns minimum provisions for electricity supply to all stationary aircraft in TEN-T core and comprehensive network airports;

- reformulates provisions for Member States’ national policy frameworks;

- sets out reporting obligations corresponding to provisions for Member States on national policy frameworks and national progress reports;

- covers user information requirements in the form of fuel labels and information requirements on fuel price comparison.