ACEA demands better charging

European automotive manufacturing industry association ACEA has questioned whether sufficient zero-emissions heavyduty trucks and the facilities to charge them, can be available in time to meet ambitious renewable energy targets set by the European Union.

MEPs and national ministers have agreed to build more recharging and alternative fuel stations under a revised Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) to serve all vehicle types, but ACEA fears that the target is weak and insufficiently comprehensive.

ACEA director-general, Sigrid de Vries, said: “Already today, a lack of charging and refuelling stations is severely hampering the market uptake of zeroemission vehicles. AFIR therefore has a crucial role to play as we make the shift to carbon-neutral transport.”

She acknowledged that the legislators have adjusted their respective positions to come to an agreement on AFIR, but maintains the outcome remains well below what would be necessary to match the ambition levels set for vehicle manufacturers in terms of CO2 targets.

“A significant ‘infrastructure gap’ will continue to limit CO2 reductions and the transition of our sector to climate neutrality,” she cautioned.

ACEA warned that in the heavy-duty segment, meeting the recently-proposed CO2 reduction levels (- 45% by 2030), some 400,000 battery-electric and hydrogenpowered trucks (mainly long-haul) would be required on EU roads by the end of the decade. In addition, more than one-third of all new trucks sold would have to be zero-emission (close to 100,000 trucks) every year from 2030. These vehicles would require more than 50,000 chargers suitable for heavy-duty vehicles, including some 35,000 megawatt chargers, as well as at least 700 hydrogen refuelling stations. With the state of charging and refuelling infrastructure today, even the current CO2 targets (-30% by 2030) are out of reach.

The AFIR agreement falls short of the required ambition level, both with respect to the necessary power outputs and deployment timelines. The short-term review for heavy-duty vehicles, will have to ensure that further adjustments will be made to address the specific requirements of trucks.

In addition to AFIR, member states must urgently ensure that planning and permitting processes are accelerated, power grids are upgraded and suitable sites are made available for truck-charging, ACEA concludes.

The message about needing to move towards a more sustainable future is being heard by the UK’s SMEs as they actively plan for a ‘greener’ way of doing business, according to the latest independent research from Close Brothers Asset Finance and Leasing.

The data reveals that 75% of those polled state being a sustainable business is important to them while a further 77% believe their firm already behaves sustainably.

Four in five firms are actively enacting plans to become more sustainable, while 62% have set goals to make their firm greener and more efficient, providing hope that the ‘green revolution’ is beginning to gain traction among the UK’s smaller firms who aren’t waiting for larger businesses to take the lead.

According to the CBI, the UK risks falling behind Europe, the US and Asia in the race towards investing in green technology if more action isn’t taken soon; however, according to the research, 60% of firms have already invested in technology to help them become more sustainable. This finding clearly demonstrates the willingness of business owners to spend capital on green technology in spite of the many challenges they face, including inflation, interest rate hikes and subdued demand.

“These results make for very encouraging reading,” said Neil Davies, CEO of Close Brothers’ Commercial Division. “The message about the need to move to a greener way of living has landed and is being heard loud and clear.

“Every business has a clear duty to act responsibly towards the environment and we are working with firms across the UK on renewable energy projects, including shore wind farms, solar energy installations, battery storage projects and landfill CHP projects, to name a few.”