Carlo Fidanza is parliament's rapporteur on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure
This is a crucial step forward for the development of alternative fuels. It represents a balanced agreement which holds together both the ambition and the realistic approach that makes this directive the appropriate tool to create market prospects and give operators and manufacturers certainty as to the law.
"This is a crucial step forward for the development of alternative fuels"
Ismail Ertug is parliament's S&D group shadow rapporteur on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure
The clean power for transport package is an important milestone in order to push for the market development of alternative fuels. Today more than 90 per cent of the energy used in transport is derived from crude oil. In order to reduce European overdependence on oil, the S&D group would have liked to see more ambitious targets than those set out in the final agreement. This accounts especially for the deployment of infrastructure for electric mobility and the use of liquid natural gas (LNG), where the council watered down requirements extensively. However, I believe that we still achieved an acceptable result during trilogue negotiations.
"Today more than 90 per cent of the energy used in transport is derived from crude oil"
First of all, the directive set out common standards for technical infrastructure specifications across Europe. For example, there will be only one type of electric vehicle connector in the future, enabling a German car to be recharged at any French charging point without the need for an expensive adapter. Until now there have been several different types of vehicle connectors and socket outlets available on the EU market. The early harmonisation of technical standards constitutes a big step forward in ensuring affordable EU-wide sustainable mobility.
Second, there is still a lack of knowledge or acceptance for alternative fuels among the majority of potential users. That is why clear consumer information on the charging points as well as comparison of prices based on a harmonised methodology will now facilitate the use.
Third, member states will have the responsibility to draft and implement national policy frameworks on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure within two years' time. These strategies must also include national targets and objectives in order to ensure union wide circulation by alternative propulsion vehicles. The European commission obtains strong review rights to ensure implementation by considering market development as well as economic and environmental consequences.
Last but not least, we have learnt that the development of alternative fuels still varies widely between different EU member states. Therefore better coordination and more good practice exchange are needed at European level. The European parliament has asked the commission to present a comprehensive action plan on sustainable mobility by 2018.
After the formal adoption in the parliament, the member states in council will have to formally approve the trilogue agreement. The directive can enter into force by autumn 2014.
Niki Tzavela is parliament's industry, research and energy committee opinion rapporteur on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure
The proposal for a directive on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure is an important initiative undertaken by the European Union. The aim in the long term is to steadily reduce the EU's dependency on oil and to create more competition on the transport sector with respect to the energy sources used in transport. There are many possibilities and new frontiers to explore, e.g. more use of natural gas in the transport sector as well as electric vehicles and vehicles which run on hydrogen.
Particularly with regards to natural gas, I believe that the recent developments in the global energy market, spurred by the US shale gas revolution, provide a good platform for natural gas and its increased use in the transport sector - for shipping, as well as cars and public transportation. Also, taking into account the discussions for a transatlantic trade and investment partnership, competition in LNG trade is also set to increase and Europe's infrastructure needs to be ready for regasification as well as liquefaction. Today there are 21 LNG terminals in Europe, six of which are in Spain.
"Investments should be primarily driven according to market demand and should be based on a technology neutral approach"
Investments should be primarily driven according to market demand and should be based on a technology neutral approach. Research and development funds should be made available by the EU in order to facilitate the market integration of new technologies and speed up their readiness for deployment. Moreover, EU efforts on standardisation are critical with respect to this proposal, given the large-cross border dimension of this directive.