E-mobility: European Energy and Transport Policies at Crossroads
European clean transport policy envisages the development of charging infrastructures for electric vehicles within a European e-mobility framework. After the downturns of the Volkswagen scandal and the prevailing low European carbon price, the EU is bringing forward car passenger transport electrification. This requires new business models based on interoperability.
In supporting the objective of deployment of 8 million electric vehicles in 2020 and ensuring e-mobility services throughout the European Union (EU), the European strategy for low-emission mobility reminds Member States of their obligation to install publicly accessible infrastructures for electric vehicles by the end of the decade, as defined in Directive 2014/94. The strategy points towards an extension beyond the 2020 horizon of low-emission policies not only in car transportation, but also in goods transport (lorries), in public passenger transport (buses), and international aviation. It comes in the context of two major policy downturns. First, the Volkswagen scandal last October 2015 put a blow on the European cars manufacturing industry, as much as on the EU’s oversight role in car emissions standards. Second, the sustained low prevailing carbon price is signalling that no emission abatement is taking place in the EU carbon market (European Emission Trading Scheme) covering power plants and industrial facilities. In car passenger transport, emissions can indeed be abated with electric vehicle, if the underlying system from which electricity is drawn is decarbonised.
European Strategy for Low Emission Mobility: turning the steering wheel towards electric mobility
As part of the Clean Power Transport Package, the European Strategy for low-emission mobility leans upon the Directive 2014/94 on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure, which requires Member States to roll out an infrastructure connecting electric vehicles (EVs). However, it is not giving any additional requirements for natural gas vehicle nor hydrogen-based vehicles (fuel cells). Among all forms of low emission vehicles (EVs, Compressed Natural Gas, hydrogen, biofuels), this new strategy orientation is promoting an electric charging infrastructure (charging stations) supporting the uptake of electric vehicles. It comes at a point where the binding objective of 10% of renewables in transport (in place for 2020) may not be pursued towards 2030, thus limiting the adoption of biofuels as a fuel for transportation. As part of the strategy, the Commission is also examining the option of promoting the installation of electric vehicle re-charging points in residential buildings.
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E-mobility: European Energy and Transport Policies at Crossroads
Author(s)
Aurélie FAURE SCHUYER
Former Research Fellow, Center for Energy, Ifri
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