Ramping up e-mobility only with sufficient charging network

The transformation within the automotive industry toward zero-emission mobility is an important part of the environmental efforts being carried out by the EU countries. A pivotal prerequisite for the success of electromobility is a highly developed alternative fuels infrastructure. This is why, as part of its Green Deal, the European Union has set itself the target of installing one million charging stations by 2025, rising to three million by 2030. This goal will not be met at the current rate of progress. However, the challenge is not merely to increase the number of charging stations in the European Union. It is also necessary, in an economic zone like the European Union, to consider the distribution of these stations. At present, the distribution is far from equal throughout the 27 EU countries: Most charging stations are in just three countries – Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

The revision to the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive (AFID) proposed by the Commission within the framework of its "Fit for 55" package represents an important step toward reaching this goal.