Bus charging and refuelling infrastructure lacking, warn auto industry and public transport sector
Brussels, 28 June 2019 – The automobile industry and the public transport sector are calling on EU member states to step up investments in much-needed infrastructure for charging and refuelling alternatively-powered buses. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) issued this joint call following the Council of the European Union’s recent adoption of the Clean Vehicles Directive.
The Clean Vehicles Directive sets binding targets for the public procurement of zero- and low-emission vehicles in each of the 28 EU member states for 2025 and 2030. However, without the necessary bus-specific infrastructure in place, these targets simply cannot be met, caution ACEA and UITP.
The Directive on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure (DAFI) – adopted back in 2014 – sets clear but non-binding national objectives for rolling out charging points and refuelling stations across the EU. Unfortunately, DAFI was a missed opportunity to prepare the public transport sector for the shift to alternative fuels, as it placed an insufficient focus on buses.
ACEA and UITP are therefore urging member states to scale up support measures for alternative fuel infrastructure for buses, and to bring forward a revision of DAFI.
“There is no doubt that climate change is a major challenge which also requires additional efforts to cut CO2 emissions from the transport sector. EU bus manufacturers are fully committed to play their part,” stated ACEA Secretary General, Erik Jonnaert. “However, the lack of charging and refuelling infrastructure is a major barrier to introducing new bus technologies to the market. National governments and the European Commission must take urgent action to resolve this.”
“It is essential that member states update their national implementation plans from the alternative fuels infrastructure directive (DAFI) and engage their cities and public transport undertakings so that the necessary infrastructure for low-emission bus systems can be planned for,” stated Thomas Avanzata, UITP Senior Director Europe Department.
About ACEA
- The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 14 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group.
- Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/.
Contact:
- Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 47.
- Ben Kennard, Content Editor and Press Manager, bk@acea.auto, +32 487 39 21 82
Interested in ACEA press releases?
Receive them directly in your inbox!
About UITP Europe
- UITP is the international association representing public transport stakeholders. In the European Union, UITP brings together more than 450 urban, suburban and regional public transport operators and authorities from all Member States. We represent the perspective of short distance passenger transport services by all sustainable modes: bus, regional and suburban rail, metro, light rail, tram and waterborne.
- Contact: Scott Shepherd, UITP Press & Media Manager, scott.shepherd@uitp.org, +32 2 663 66 73.
About the EU automobile industry
- 13.0 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
- 11.5% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
- €374.6 billion in tax revenue for European governments
- €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
- Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
- €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total
