Carmakers, environmentalists and consumer groups are calling on the EU to set ambitious targets per country for the deployment of electric vehicle charging points.
In a common letter today, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), Transport & Environment (T&E) and the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) asked the EU climate, transport, industry and energy commissioners to use this year’s revision of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure law to require 1 million public charging points across the bloc in 2024, and 3 million in 2029.
Setting targets will send a strong signal to consumers that the number of public charging points will keep pace with the surging sales of electric vehicles which Europe is witnessing, the letter said. It would also grant much needed certainty to the automotive industry but also grid operators, re-charging infrastructure operators and transport companies. The proposal would also aid the creation of one million jobs across the continent and help the EU meet its climate goals. The proposal would also aid the creation of one million jobs across the continent and help the EU meet its climate goals.
William Todts, executive director at T&E, said:William Todts, executive director at T&E, said: “If we’re serious about global warming we need to go electric fast. To speed up the transition we need ubiquitous and easy charging not just in Norway and the Netherlands but all across Europe. EV charging targets per country are a great way to make that happen and the Commission should stop dragging its feet over this.”.”
The targets should be allocated to each country based on a simple and fair methodology that takes into account factors like how much private charging is available, the letter said. The number of publicly accessible chargers should increase in line with the number of EVs on the road, the groups also proposed. Therefore, according to the methodology proposed by the group of signatories, Romania should have 1.102 public charging points by 2024 and 10.172 in 2029. The law should also set a target of around 1,000 hydrogen stations by 2029.
The signatories are also calling on the European Commission to make the investments in public charging points mandatory through the national recovery and resilience plans, including hydrogen.
The letter can be read here.