The European Commission has welcomed the decision of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee to increase the number of alternative fuel stations across Europe to break the dependency of the transport sector on oil.
Commission vice president, Siim Kallas, also in charge of transport, commented: "I am very pleased with the positive vote. It strengthens our proposal, especially as regards the minimum infrastructure coverage, information for consumers and innovation aspects. I am confident that ambitious measures will be adopted soon for the benefit of EU citizens and industry".
In January this year, the European Commission proposed a directive to ensure the roll-out of alternative fuels stations across the EU, with common standards to ensure mobility across the continent. The proposal is attempting to solve the following conundrum: refuelling stations for alternative fuels are not built because there are not enough vehicles, while consumers do not buy the vehicles because there are no fuelling stations.
The proposal anticipates a minimum coverage of refuelling infrastructure for alternative fuels – electricity, hydrogen, natural gas - in the road and sea transport areas.
The following highlights from the initial proposal have been strengthened by the recent vote; the proposal:
- Requests member states to set national targets that are at least in line with the minimum requirements set by the European Commission.
- Adds to the content of the national policy framework that each member state must develop provisions related to the reduction of urban congestion and the deployment of electrified public transport.
- Introduces provisions for the use of electricity at airports and for the recharging of electric vehicles during off-peak times.
For liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the maritime and inland-waterways sectors, the new requirements are less stringent than original proposed by the Commission. This could lead to market fragmentation, continue a spiral of lack of demand because of lack of infrastructure and put at risk member states’ chances of meeting the requirements on the sulphur content of marine fuels.
Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward