E-mobility, European cross-industry coalition pushes for robust policy framework

A robust policy framework for e-mobility on a European scale is what a cross-industry coalition, represented by some major trade associations, including ACEA for the automotive sector, requires. In fact, the automotive, energy generation, electricity and charging infrastructure industries have come together to urge the European Parliament and Council to adopt strong, interconnected policies to accelerate the transition to zero-emission and CO2-neutral mobility.

The urgent need of a policy framework for e-mobility

These sectors launched their first-ever common appeal to policy makers at a cross-industry roundtable in Brussels today, March 18. What do they ask? «Increased investment in charging and refuelling infrastructure for alternatively-powered cars, vans, trucks and buses is urgently needed, according to the industry coalition», according to the coalition. The EU will therefore need to adopt higher targets for both public and private infrastructure than those foreseen in the European Commission’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) proposals.

To make charging and hydrogen refuelling stations commercially viable during the ramp-up phase of electric vehicles, public support, financial incentives, co-funding and mandatory targets are needed. This is crucial to ensure that a minimum infrastructure network becomes rapidly available across the EU, say the co-signatories. Public intervention is needed now for a limited period, especially in areas where the roll-out is slower.

Incentives and faster permitting procedures

The ramp-up of infrastructure should go hand-in-hand with the transition to zero-emission energy. Indeed, moving towards climate-neutral transport and mobility only makes sense if the transition to zero-emission energy happens in parallel. Incentives should therefore be given to encourage the use of zero-emission energy in the transport sector, the signatories argue. Accelerating permitting procedures to deploy the needed renewables generation capacity is key. The end-user should also not be forgotten, with policies ensuring a customer-centric charging eco-system that is affordable and allows for EU-wide roaming, without prejudice to the contractual freedom of this market’s operators.

In addition to ACEA, also the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA), Eurelectric (the wider electricity industry), WindEurope (the energy generation sector) and ChargeUp Europe (the electric vehicle charging infrastructure industry) were involved in the coalition.