Alternative Fuels Infrastructure (Directive)

The European Commission wants to promote the penetration of the market by vehicles using alternative fuels by extending the network of both refuelling points for alternative fuels and electricity recharging points. For this purpose, the refuelling and electricity recharging infrastructure is to be standardised EU-wide and every Member States will be required to have a specific minimum number of electricity recharging points for electric vehicles by 2020.

cepPolicyBrief

The build-up requirements for recharging points have a very high risk of being a bad investment. Political influence over the establishment of certain technologies can create long-term subsidy structures and impede more innovative propulsion technologies in the future. The EU-wide standardisation of the interfaces for refuelling and recharging substantially increases their usability.