Capacity based targets accounting for local needs are best suited to support rapid growth of the EV fleet across the EU.

In the lead up to groundbreaking EU proposals to slash CO2 emissions from vehicles, ChargeUp Europe today called for binding minimum capacity targets to accelerate the roll out of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Europe. The European charging infrastructure sector calls on the European Commission to set binding national targets under the reform of the EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive in the form of minimum capacity thresholds required to serve the needs of EV drivers across diverse use cases in different countries.

In a position paper developed with its knowledge partner Arthur D Little, ChargeUp Europe underlines its support for ambitious short-term targets for publicly accessible charging infrastructure[1] by 2025 and additional targets for 2030 subject to a mid-term review. At the same time, the charging infrastructure sector emphasises that it is crucial that these targets are complemented by harmonised rules under a new EU Regulation[2] to break down the many existing market and regulatory barriers to the scale up of infrastructure in Europe. 

Minimum thresholds for 2025 – Scaling up for mass uptake of EVs

Based on today’s market projections, a total pan-EU minimum capacity threshold of 29000 MW of installed capacity is required to serve the number of passenger electric vehicles expected on European roads by 2025. This could translate to an indicative split of around 900,000 AC charging points, over 200,000 DC (>50Kw) charging points, and almost 40,000 high power charging points (≥150kW) across Europe.

This minimum capacity threshold target for 2025 would constitute at least a fourfold increase over current installed capacity for AC charging and at least ten times the current capacity installed for DC charging.  It is important to note that these thresholds are based on current market projections and will need to be revised upwards to align with higher Green Deal objectives for CO2 vehicle emissions and serve the charging requirements of all other types of vehicles.

“The time to act is now. An ambitious short-term target for 2025 is necessary to ensure political prioritisation – particularly to meet the needs of drivers in underserved countries and regions. It would help provide a long-term perspective for investment and a more consistent development of the EV market in Europe,” according to Christopher Burghardt, President of ChargeUp Europe.

Minimum thresholds to 2030 – A maturing market

Looking beyond 2025, ChargeUp Europe expects comparatively less need for public intervention as the market for electric vehicle charging infrastructure matures. Nevertheless, based on current projections for the uptake of EVs in Europe, ChargeUp Europe foresees that a minimum target of 66,000 MW for publicly accessible charging divided among Member States will be needed by 2030 to serve the passenger vehicle fleet alone.

It’s not just about the numbers – national plans and harmonised rules:

ChargeUp Europe also stresses that targets at Member State level:

Ø  are grounded on robust projections for the development of the market and take into account different charging needs, travel habits and domestic/professional situations of different EV drivers;

Ø  fit within a broader charging deployment ambition and enabling policies required to serve all use cases (e.g. including home and workplace charging) which should be outlined in comprehensive national charging rollout plans subject to oversight by the European Commission.

Ø  are based on a clearly understood definition of what constitutes as “publicly accessible”;

Ø  are designed with a view to incentivising market-driven uptake beyond minimum thresholds;

The paper also emphasises the need to complement any targets with robust harmonising measures under a new EU Regulation for Alternative Fuel Infrastructure.

"Targets for targets sake risk being ineffective, and targets on their own don’t make sense. It is even more important that they fit within a broader set of harmonised rules to tackle market fragmentation due to diverging national requirements and address barriers to the scale up infrastructure in areas like grid connection and permitting procedures. We need a true single market for EV charging infrastructure so that drivers can travel with ease wherever they are in Europe” added Burghardt.