Council adopts its position on three texts relating to the transport sector

European transport ministers adopted a common position (‘general approach’) on each of the three legislative proposals of the fit for 55 package that relate to the transport sector (alternative fuels infrastructure (AFIR), FuelEU Maritime and ReFuelEU Aviation).

This is an important step in the implementation of the fit for 55 legislative package, which should enable the EU to meet its climate objectives: reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. For the transport sector in particular, the objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% (the sector currently accounts for more than a quarter of EU emissions).

Alternative fuels infrastructure (AFIR)

The Council adopted a general approach on the draft regulation on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (AFIR).

The main objective of the proposed regulation is to ensure that the public has access to a sufficient infrastructure network for recharging or refuelling road vehicles or ships with alternative fuels.

It also aims to provide alternative solutions so that ships moored at the quayside and stationary aircraft do not need to keep their engines running.

Lastly, the goal is to achieve full interoperability throughout the EU and to make sure that the infrastructure is easy to use.

The proposed regulation will play an important role in speeding up the deployment of this infrastructure so that the adoption of zero- and low-emission vehicles and ships will not be impeded, initiating a virtuous circle, and enabling the transport sector to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

The revised rules will send a clear signal to citizens and other stakeholders that user-friendly recharging infrastructure will be installed wherever it is needed, throughout the EU.

The Council’s general approach retains the fundamental aspects of the Commission proposal, i.e. the key overall parameters that will have a real impact on the climate, in particular:

• for recharging light electric vehicles, requirements for the power to be provided, based on the size of the registered fleet and the TEN-T coverage requirements in 2025 and 2030
• for recharging electric heavy-duty vehicles and hydrogen refuelling, requirements for TEN-T coverage by 2030, starting in 2025 for electric heavy-duty vehicles
• for the supply of electricity to ships at the quayside in ports, requirements applicable from 2030

The general approach does, however, amend some aspects of the Commission proposal.

It adapts it to the specific dynamics of the electric heavy-duty vehicle sector: given the developments expected in the immediate future, particularly in recharging standards, and the fact that the market is less developed than for light vehicles, a gradual process of infrastructure deployment, encouraging a corridor approach, has been provided for starting in 2025, with the aim of covering all TEN-T roads by 2030.

To maximise the efficiency of investments in hydrogen refuelling and to adapt to technological developments, the requirements in the text are focused on the deployment of gaseous hydrogen refuelling infrastructure along the TEN-T core network, paying particular attention to urban nodes and multimodal hubs. The Commission will regularly assess developments in this sector in order to adapt and supplement the requirements as necessary.

Adaptations have been made to ensure that electric recharging requirements are compatible with the wide range of circumstances on the ground and that investments are proportionate to needs, allowing some leeway to adapt the total power of electric recharging pools for sections of the TEN-T network where traffic volumes are low, or even to increase the maximum distance between recharging pools for sections with very low traffic.

To make electric recharging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure easy to use, users’ needs in terms of different payment and price-display options have been fully taken into account, while avoiding disproportionate investment, particularly in existing infrastructure.

As regards on-shore power supply in maritime ports, the provisions have been made fully consistent with the FuelEU Maritime proposal.

The clarity and structure of the text have also been improved to specify the obligations of each stakeholder involved, provide for progress tracking, ensure users are properly informed and supply the industry with common standards and technical specifications.

Finally, to take full account of anticipated significant technological and market developments that will affect heavy-duty vehicles, the general approach includes a clause on a specific review in the short term. The whole text will also be reviewed in the medium term, followed by a regular review.