The European Green Deal: New Regulatory Instruments for Reducing Emissions in the Transportation Sector

Europe is moving rapidly toward reducing emissions in the transportation sector. Significant progress has been made in recent months, and amendments to various directives and regulations have been approved that will bring about major structural changes in both national vehicle fleets and the energy mix for transportation. Changes are expected in both the passenger and freight vehicle segments.

Photo: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/

Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR): a new piece of legislation aimed at increasing the number of charging and refueling stations across Europe

The regulation sets out specific implementation targets to be achieved by 2025 or 2030, in particular:

Starting in 2025, fast-charging stations with a capacity of at least 150 kW for passenger cars and vans must be installed every 60 km along the EU’s main transport corridors, or the so-called Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T);
Starting in 2025, charging stations with a minimum capacity of 350 kW for heavy-duty vehicles must be installed every 60 km on the TEN-T core network and every 100 km on the larger, comprehensive TEN-T network, achieving full network coverage by 2030;
Starting in 2030, hydrogen refueling stations for both passenger cars and trucks must be installed at all urban hubs and every 200 km along the TEN-T core network;
seaports that handle a minimum number of large passenger ships or container ships must provide shore power for such vessels by 2030;
Airports must provide electricity to parked aircraft: by 2025 at all boarding gates, and by 2030 at all remote parking stands.

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Renewable Energy Directive (RED III): Raises the renewable energy target for the transportation sector.

RED III raises the renewable energy target for transportation from 14% to 29%. As in the previous version of the Renewable Energy Directive, the responsibility for meeting the renewable energy target must be assumed by fuel suppliers designated by the state.

Starting in 2025, RED III sets a specific combined sub-target (of 1%) for so-called advanced biofuels and transport fuels of non-biological origin derived from renewable energy sources (RFNBO), such as hydrogen and e-fuels. By 2030, their share must reach 5.5%, of which at least 1% must be RFNBO. RED III also stipulates that biomethane injected into the national gas transmission and distribution infrastructure may be counted toward meeting this sub-target.

Similarly, part of the target can be met by using crop-based biofuels, the consumption of which can be increased to slightly above the 2020 consumption level. Furthermore, unlike previous versions of the directive, RED III provides for a compensation mechanism for operators of both public and private electric vehicle charging networks, stipulating that they may receive exchange credits for the renewable electricity supplied for transportation.