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