Driving forward: EU approves electric charging stations every 60 km

At the plenary session in Strasbourg, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted today to approve new regulations focusing on expanding the availability of alternative fuel stations for cars and trucks, facilitating easy recharging, and promoting cleaner maritime fuels. The rules, part of the "Fit for 55 in 2030 package," aim to achieve a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and contribute to the decarbonization of the transportation sector.

According to a European Parliament press release, the regulations stipulate that electric charging stations with a minimum output of 400 kW should be deployed every 60 km along core network routes for cars by 2026, increasing to 600 kW by 2028. For trucks and buses, charging stations must be available every 120 km. By 2028, half of the main EU roads should have these stations installed, with power outputs ranging from 1400 kW to 2800 kW, depending on the road. Additionally, EU member states are required to ensure that hydrogen refueling stations are deployed at least every 200 km along the core Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) by 2031.

The regulations also emphasize user convenience, with provisions for easy payment methods at recharging points and transparent pricing displayed per kilowatt-hour (kWh), kilogram (kg), or per minute/session. To further aid consumers, MEPs have stipulated that the European Commission will establish an EU database on alternative fuels data by 2027, providing information on station availability, waiting times, and prices.

Addressing cleaner maritime fuels, MEPs also adopted rules that will take effect from January 1, 2025. Ships with a gross tonnage exceeding 5,000 will gradually reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the energy they use below the 2020 levels, achieving a 2% reduction by 2025 and an 80% reduction by 2050. The regulations cover ships operating within or between EU ports, as well as 50% of the energy used during voyages involving ports outside of the EU or in the EU's outermost regions.

To combat air pollution in ports, containerships and passenger ships will be required to use an on-shore power supply for all electricity needs while docked at major EU ports from 2030 onwards. The new rules also include a target of 2% renewable fuel usage by 2034 if the Commission reports that renewable fuels of non-biological origin amount to less than 1% of the overall fuel mix in 2031.