Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

The regulation sets mandatory national targets for European Union (EU) Member States to deploy publicly accessible alternative fuels infrastructure (in particular for electricity and hydrogen) for road vehicles, vessels moored at the quayside and stationary aircraft, with a specific focus on the trans-European networks. The regulation also includes:

common rules for user information, data provision and payment requirements;
a mandate for the Commission to adopt delegated acts to ensure interoperability of infrastructure by mandating technical specifications on the basis of European standards; and
planning and reporting requirements for Member States.

KEY POINTS

Recharging infrastructure for electric cars and vans

Member States must ensure that publicly accessible recharging stations are set up in proportion to the number of registered vehicles, as follows:

for each registered electric vehicle, a total power output of at least 1.3 kilowatts (kW);
for each registered plug-in hybrid vehicle, a total power output of at least 0.80 kW.

Member States must also ensure the deployment of publicly accessible recharging stations along the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) road network.

By 31 December 2025, one recharging pool* with a power output of at least 400 kW (including at least one 150 kW recharging point) at least every 60 kilometres (km) on the TEN-T core network* in each direction of travel; by 31 December 2027, each pool must provide a power output of 600 kW and include at least two 150 kW recharging points.
By 31 December 2027, on at least half of the TEN-T comprehensive network*, each recharging pool must provide a power output of at least 300 kW and include at least one 150 kW recharging point, and over the entire length by 31 December 2030.
By 31 December 2035, each recharging pool must offer at least 600 kW and include at least two 150 kW recharging points.

Recharging infrastructure for electric heavy-duty vehicles

Member States must ensure a minimum coverage of recharging points for heavy-duty electric vehicles.

By 31 December 2025, recharging pools must be installed along at least 15% of the TEN-T road network with a power output of at least 1400 kW and include at least one recharging point with a power output of at least 350 kW.
By 31 December 2027, recharging pools must be deployed on at least half of the TEN-T road network with a power output of at least 1400 kW (2800 kW along the core network), including at least one recharging point (two for the core network) of at least 350 kW.
By 31 December 2030, the power output must increase to at least 1500 kW on the TEN-T comprehensive network (100 km apart) and 3600 kW (60 km apart) on the TEN-T core network.
By 31 December 2027, each ‘safe and secure parking area’ must be equipped with at least two publicly accessible recharging stations (rising to four charging stations by 31 December 2030) that provide an individual power output of at least 100 kW.
By 31 December 2025, each urban node* must have publicly accessible recharging points dedicated to heavy-duty vehicles with an aggregated power output of at least 900 kW (rising to 1800 kW by 31 December 2030).

Hydrogen infrastructure for road vehicles

By 31 December 2030, Member States must ensure that publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations with a total capacity of at least 1 tonne per day are deployed at least every 200 km along the TEN-T core network. At least one refuelling station must be deployed in each urban node.

Liquefied methane for road transport

Until 31 December 2024, Member States must ensure that an appropriate number of publicly accessible refuelling points for liquefied methane are set up, at least along the TEN-T core network, where there is demand, unless the costs are disproportionate to the benefits, including environmental benefits.

Electricity supply in maritime ports

By 31 December 2029, there must be sufficient shoreside electricity for ships moored at the quayside at TEN-T core and TEN-T comprehensive maritime ports to serve at least 90% of all container and passenger vessels above 5,000 gross tonnage.

Electricity for stationary aircraft

By 31 December 2024, all airports of the TEN-T core and comprehensive network must provide electricity to stationary aircraft used for commercial air transport operations at aircraft contact stands, and by 31 December 2029 at all remote stands.

Railway infrastructure

Member States must assess the development of alternative fuel technologies and propulsion systems (including hydrogen and battery power) for rail infrastructure that cannot be fully electrified for technical or cost-efficiency reasons.

Payment

Users of electric and hydrogen vehicles must be able to pay easily at recharging and hydrogen refuelling points (with payment cards and without subscriptions). Prices, including all of their components and specific to the recharging session, must be communicated clearly to end users before the start of a recharging session.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

The regulation came into force on 12 October 2023 and will be applicable as from 13 April 2024. A range of targets to be met by Member States will be phased in by 2035.

BACKGROUND

The alternative fuels infrastructure regulation is part of the fit-for-55 package presented by the European Commission in July 2021, aiming to reduce the EU’s net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to be climate neutral by 2050.

The regulation repeals Directive 2014/94/EU (see summary).

For further information, see:

European Green Deal (European Commission)
Trans-European transport network (TEN-T) (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Recharging pool. One or more recharging stations at a specific location.

TEN-T core network. A subset of the TEN-T comprehensive network comprising the most important connections linking major cities and urban nodes, which must be completed by 2030 and meet the highest infrastructure quality standards.

TEN-T comprehensive network. A Europe-wide transport infrastructure network comprising railways, inland waterways, short sea shipping routes and roads linking urban nodes, maritime and inland ports, airports and terminals, used as a basis for identifying projects of common interest.

Urban node. An urban area where the transport infrastructure of the trans-European transport network, such as ports including passenger terminals, airports, railway stations, logistic platforms and freight terminals located in and around an urban area, is connected with other parts of that infrastructure and with the infrastructure for regional and local traffic.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, and repealing Directive 2014/94/EU (OJ L 234, 22.9.2023, pp. 1–47).