European Parliament vote on EV charging, hydrogen refueling infrastructure welcomed by auto bodies

The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, or ACEA, has welcomes the European Parliament vote to roll out charging and refueling infrastructure across the region to power passenger and commercial electric vehicles, the group said Oct. 19.

The EP voted Oct. 19 in favor of the European Commission's proposed Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, or AFIR, which is part of the "Fit for 55" climate package and sets targets for the minimum capacity and maximum distance between recharging and hydrogen refueling points along the Trans-European Network for Transport to support the decarbonization of the road transport sector.

The metal most likely to benefit from the rollout of charging infrastructure in copper. The London Metal Exchange three-month copper price closed at $7,421/mt Oct. 18, down 24% since the start of 2022.

As part of the vote, MEPs voted in some improvements to AFIR, including increasing the national targets for charging points and hydrogen fueling stations, increasing the required power output for light- and heavy-duty vehicle chargers, a faster rollout of hydrogen filling stations and more transparency and convenience for consumers.

These were all welcomed by the auto industry, ACEA said.

"We are pleased that MEPs have injected more ambition into this regulation, upping the national targets for both charging points and hydrogen fueling stations, compared to the commission's proposal," ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries said, adding that infrastructure was essential to transport decarbonization.

"However, even with these strengthened targets, AFIR will only provide a minimum network of infrastructure, which will have to be complemented by private sector initiatives," she said, with these needing support from EU policy makers through de-risking investments and speeding up permitting and planning procedures, including for grid upgrades.

The ACEA called on national governments, the EP and the EC to maintain a strong AFIR in the trialogue negotiations.

"Policy makers have already set the bar very high for the auto industry when it comes to targets for CO2 emissions from cars and vans. It is now crucial that AFIR matches this level of ambition," de Vries said.

IRU welcomes vote

The International Road Transport Union, or IRU, also welcomed the vote, saying that the EP had aimed high when voting for an ambitious AFIR, which had confirmed the need for a solid and robust policy framework.

A higher standard of infrastructure was crucial to ensuring adequate facilities were in place to keep alternatively-fueled trucks, buses, coaches and taxis moving across Europe, it said.

The parliament understood that Europe needed bolder laws and policies to build an alternative fuels infrastructure network that would work and enable commercial road transport to decarbonize, IRU Director of EU Advocacy Raluca Marian said.

"The Parliament's view counterbalances the council's position, adopted earlier this year, which was disappointing in terms of member state commitment to support the road transport sector," she said. "We now hope that member states and the commission opt for a bolder and more robust approach," she added.

The IRU previously welcomed the EP's Transport Committee vote in favor of increasing power output requirements, as well as anticipating the deadlines to establish electric recharging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure on the core and comprehensive networks of the Trans-European Network for Transport.

"As zero-emission vehicles are starting to hit the heavy-duty market, it is imperative to roll out an alternative fuels infrastructure across the EU," Marian said, adding that without an extensive network of alternative fuels infrastructure, zero-emission vehicles uptake was impossible.

"We call on member states to do their part and support an ambitious AFIR, as embraced by the European Parliament," she said.