The new rules setting minimum mandatory national targets for the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure are part of the Fit for 55 in 2030 package, the EU’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.  

MEPs have agreed that, by 2026, there should be at least one electric charging pool for cars every 60 km along main EU roads. The same requirement would apply for trucks and buses, but only on core TEN-T networks. There will be some exemptions for outermost regions, islands and roads with very little traffic.

They have also called for more hydrogen refuelling stations to be established along main EU roads – every 100 km as opposed to every 150 km, which was initially proposed by the European Commission – and to do it faster, by 2028 instead of by 2031.

Furthermore, they have agreed that alternative refuelling stations should be accessible to all vehicle brands and payment should be easy. Sites should display the price per kWh or per kg, and prices should be ‘affordable and comparable’. MEPs also want an EU access point for alternative fuels data to be set up by 2027, to provide information on the availability, waiting times and prices at different stations across Europe.

Commenting on the news, European Parliament rapporteur on alternative fuels infrastructure Ismail Ertug, from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, says: ‘At the moment we have 377,000 charging stations in the EU, but this is half the amount that should have been achieved had EU countries lived up to their promises. We need to tackle this decarbonisation bottleneck and quickly roll out the alternative fuels infrastructure to save the Green Deal.’

Fabian Sperka, Vehicles Policy Manager at green group Transport & Environment (T&E), adds: ‘For years anxiety over infrastructure has held back the electrification of road transport. This law should calm any fears and ensure that charging will always keep pace with EVs on the road.’ T&E is calling on EU governments to rise to the ambition set by MEPs for car and truck charging when member states enter negotiations with the European Parliament to finalise the law.  

Sustainable maritime fuels

MEPs have also stated their position on draft EU rules concerning the use of renewable and low carbon fuels in maritime transport. The European Parliament wants the maritime sector to cut GHG emissions from ships by 2% as of 2025, 20% by 2035 and 80% by 2050 compared to 2020 level (the EC had proposed a 13% and 75% reduction).

This would apply for ships above 5,000 gross tonnes, reportedly responsible for 90% of CO₂ emissions, to all energy used onboard in or between EU ports, and to 50% of energy used on voyages where the departure or arrival port is outside the EU or in its outermost regions.

In addition, MEPs have set a target of 2% of renewable fuels usage and mandated containerships and passenger ships to use onshore power supply while at berth at main EU ports as of 2030 in a bid to significantly reduce air pollution in ports.

To ensure compliance, MEPs favour the introduction of penalties, with revenues generated to go to the Ocean Fund and contribute to decarbonising the maritime sector, energy efficiency and zero emission propulsion technologies.

‘This is by far the world’s most ambitious pathway to maritime decarbonisation,’ comments European Parliament rapporteur on sustainable maritime fuels Jörgen Warborn, from the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats). ‘Parliament’s position ensures that our climate targets will be met rapidly and effectively, safeguarding the maritime sector’s competitiveness and ensuring there won’t be carbon leakage or jobs leaving Europe.’