Infrastructure regulation: More ambition and less flexibilities needed, auto makers say

Brussels, 7 June 2022 – The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) welcomes the fact that EU member states adopted their position on the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) last week.
“A rapid ramp-up of charging and refuelling infrastructure is vital to decarbonise road transport,” stated Eric-Mark Huitema, ACEA’s Director General. “We need a swift adoption of this important Regulation to send the right signal to the markets.”
The European Commission put forward its proposal for AFIR as part of its ‘Fit for 55’ climate package last year. This proposal sets mandatory targets for charging points and hydrogen refuelling stations in all 27 EU member states.
As part of its ‘general approach’, the Council maintained the Commission’s infrastructure targets for both light- and heavy-duty vehicles. Unfortunately however, these ambition levels are far from sufficient to support a massive market uptake of zero-emissions vehicles.
Huitema: “The Council’s position on AFIR simply does not guarantee the minimum levels of infrastructure that will be needed for vehicle manufacturers to meet their CO2 targets.”
Policymakers must also be aware that setting phase-in targets for trucks will effectively determine the CO2 reductions that will be possible in this segment.
ACEA also regrets that the Council introduced several flexibilities. These derogations are based on parameters such as transit volumes on the roads and ‘socio-economic cost-benefit’ analyses.
There already is a very uneven spread of infrastructure across the EU, with some 70% of all charging points centralised in four EU countries. “Allowing member states to apply different rules on infrastructure deployment would aggravate this patchy situation,” cautioned Mr Huitema. “This should be avoided at all costs, as it would disincentivise consumers from switching to alternative powertrains and hamper cross-border travel.”
ACEA now calls on member states, the European Parliament and the Commission to insert more ambition into AFIR in order to ensure that it is in line with the EU’s climate targets.
Allowing member states to apply different rules on infrastructure deployment would disincentivise consumers from switching to alternative powertrains.
Notes for editors
- ACEA’s full position on AFIR can be found here: https://www.acea.auto/publication/position-paper-proposal-alternative-fuels-infrastructure-regulation-afir/.
- A fact sheet on AFIR for cars and vans is available here: https://www.acea.auto/fact/fact-sheet-alternative-fuels-infrastructure-regulation-cars-vans/.
- A fact sheet on AFIR for trucks is available here: https://www.acea.auto/fact/fact-sheet-alternative-fuels-infrastructure-regulation-heavy-duty-vehicles/.
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 2 738 73 17
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About the EU automobile industry
- 12.9 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
- 8.3% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
- €392.2 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