Alternative fuels Directive
ACEM, the
Brussels based motorcycle industry trade association for Europe, has welcomed
the European Parliament vote on the Directive on the deployment of alternative
fuels - describing it as "a first step towards common standards", but
say that "much remains to be done".
"The
motorcycle industry is particularly pleased that the final text responds to
ACEM's views regarding the inclusion of L-category vehicles (mopeds,
motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles) and the need for a technology-neutral
approach that does not favour any alternative fuel over the other.
"The
industry also welcomes the recognition that L-category vehicles running on
alternative fuels have the potential to contribute to meeting the EU's
ambitious climate and energy targets for 2020".
ACEM went
on to say that while most L-category vehicles are well suited for electric
power, due to their intrinsic characteristics of being small, light and
specialised, vehicles running on alternative, low emissions fuels such as
electricity and hydrogen still represent a low share of the L-category fleet.
"Increasing
the availability of public charging points could change this situation and
facilitate the deployment of L-category vehicles powered by alternative fuels,
particularly in urban and suburban areas.
"The
adoption of common standards for electric chargers is of paramount importance
for the industry. The standards currently being prepared by CEN/CENELEC under
Mandate M/468 of the European Commission should ensure European-wide
interoperability and guarantee the required safety and security level for the
consumer”.
CEN (the
European Committee for Standardisation) and CENELEC (the European Committee for
Electrotechnical Standardisation) are two of the three primary officially
recognised European Standardisation Organisations that develop and agree the
safety and quality standards for consumer products.
"ACEM
strongly believes that recharging points for L-category vehicles should be
equipped with connectors of Type 3A. This solution would avoid a multiplicity
of different cables and adaptors and retrofit costs for switching to different
charging systems. Moreover it would help to create a secure investment climate
for L-category vehicle manufacturers and would prevent the risk of stranded
assets resulting from interim solutions".
ACEM points
to the risk that "first movers in the field of electromobility could be
penalised by this new legal framework and calls again on policy makers to
ensure that L-category vehicles already in circulation in the EU that are
fitted with a domestic plug are able to recharge after the entry into force of
this Directive".
Commenting
on the outcome of the vote ACEM Secretary General Jacques Compagne said: “The
removal of minimum national targets for recharging points [has] significantly
watered down the Commission’s proposal.
"While
the compromise reached by the Parliament and the Council is not perfect, it
paves the way for more technical predictability, something that L-category
vehicle manufacturers require.
"The
next step now is to ensure that appropriate standards are approved by
CEN/CENELEC and that the necessary delegated acts, catering for electric and
hydrogen L-category vehicles, are adopted by the Commission. Further work at
national level will be required in order to deploy the necessary
infrastructure”.
