EU Publishes New Regulation for Alternative Fuel Infrastructure
The European Union has published a new regulation mandating a significant expansion of alternative fuel infrastructure across member states. The directive targets the deployment of EV charging stations, hydrogen refueling points, and multimodal hubs. Dutch municipalities and provinces will need to align their regional mobility and spatial planning strategies to meet the new requirements.
- The regulation, known as AFIR (Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation), is a key part of the European Union's "Fit for 55" package, which aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. It replaces a previous directive, shifting from country-specific interpretation to a uniformly applicable regulation across all member states to ensure a harmonized rollout. - By the end of 2025, fast-charging stations of at least 150 kW for cars and vans must be installed every 60 kilometers along the EU's main transport corridors, the TEN-T network. For heavy-duty vehicles, charging stations with a minimum output of 350 kW are required every 60 km along the core TEN-T network and every 100 km on the comprehensive network, with full coverage by 2030. - The regulation also mandates the installation of hydrogen refueling stations at all urban nodes and every 200 kilometers along the TEN-T core network by 2030. - A key provision for user experience is the requirement for ad-hoc payment options at new public charging stations with a capacity of 50 kW or more, allowing payment via debit/credit cards or contactless methods without a subscription. Price information must also be transparent and clearly displayed. - The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is preparing a legislative proposal to implement AFIR, with an intended entry into force on July 1, 2027. The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) has noted that while the Netherlands largely meets the targets for light transport, the biggest impact for municipalities will be the spatial planning for heavy-duty vehicle charging and hydrogen stations. - There are significant concerns in the Netherlands regarding the capacity of the existing electric grid to handle the accelerated deployment of fast chargers. Stakeholders, including the RAI Association, have emphasized the need to work with network operators to install thicker cables to support the increased demand. - The regulation extends beyond roads, requiring airports to provide electricity to stationary aircraft at all gates by 2025 and maritime ports to provide shore-side electricity for many vessels by 2030. - For every registered battery-electric light-duty vehicle, member states must ensure a total power output of at least 1.3 kW is provided through publicly accessible stations. For plug-in hybrids, the target is at least 0.8 kW per vehicle.
