European Parliament lawmakers and members of the EU Council have agreed on a new law that mandates a significant increase in electric vehicle recharging and hydrogen refuelling stations throughout Europe’s main transport networks.
The new law aims to facilitate the transition to zero-emission transport and alleviate consumer refuelling concerns that could hinder the adoption of zero-emission vehicles. The agreement is another step towards achieving the European Commission’s “Fit for 55” roadmap, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990.
The law requires publicly available charging infrastructure for cars and vans based on the number of registered battery-electric cars in each member state, deployment of fast-charging stations every 60 km along the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) by 2025, and recharging stations dedicated to heavy-duty vehicles every 60 km along the TEN-T core network, and every 100 km on the larger TEN-T comprehensive network from 2025 onwards, with complete network coverage to be achieved by 2030.
The law also requires hydrogen refuelling infrastructure to serve cars and trucks every 200 km along the TEN-T core network by 2030. Furthermore, the law includes rules for charging and refuelling station operators to ensure pricing transparency and offer common payment methods. Finally, the law also mandates the provision of electricity at maritime ports and airports for stationary aircraft and vessels at berth.
