On Oct. 19, the EP approved the proposed Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) under the accepted “Fit for 55” climate package that includes targets for the minimum capacity and maximum distance between recharging and hydrogen refueling points along the Trans-European Network for Transport that should enable the decarbonization of the road transport sector.

Copper is to benefit most from the rollout of charging infrastructure. The LME three-month copper price closed at $7,421/mt Oct. 18, down 24% since the beginning of 2022.

Included in the vote, MEPs secured some improvements to AFIR, including tightening the targets for charging points and hydrogen fueling stations at the national level, increasing the required power output for light- and heavyweight vehicle chargers, a faster rollout of the hydrogen filling stations and greater transparency and convenience for consumers. All were welcomed by the auto industry, ACEA said.

ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries said it was good to see that MEPs raised the ambition level of this regulation and made the national targets for both charging points and hydrogen fueling stations even more ambitious than the Commission proposed, and infrastructure is the key to transport decarbonization.

“But, even with these tightening targets, AFIR would still provide a minimum infrastructure network, which would need to be complemented by the private sector,” she said, needing support from EU policymakers with de-risking investments and accelerating permitting and planning processes, particularly for grid upgrades though ravaged by the impacts of climate extremes, over the past decade and a half.

ACEA urged national governments, EP, and EC to ensure a robust AFIR in the trialogue negotiations.

“Policy makers have already placed the auto industry under high pressure, targeting CO2 emissions from cars and vans. Now it is essential that AFIR meets that level of ambition,” de Vries said.

IRU welcomes vote

The International Road Transport Union, or IRU, likewise welcomed the vote, noting that the EP had again set itself high goals with its vote on an ambitious AFIR, which had acknowledged the need for a solid and robust policy framework.

The need for a higher standard of infrastructure was paramount to ensure sufficient facilities were available to keep alternatively-fuelled trucks, buses, coaches, and taxis moving across Europe, it added.

The parliament recognized that Europe needed to enact bolder laws and policies to build an alternative fuels infrastructure network that will enable commercial road transport to decarbonize, IRU's Director of EU Advocacy Raluca Marian said.

"The Parliament's standpoint is offsetting the position of the council, which back in spring of 2021 proved to be disappointing in terms of the willingness from the member states to help support the road transport sector," she added. “We now need member states and the commission to act more boldly and strongly,” she said.

The IRU conditionally welcomed the EP's Transport Committee vote to strengthen the output of power requirements, and looked forward to the deadlines for putting in place electric recharging and hydrogen refueling when it comes to the core and comprehensive networks of the Trans-European Network for Transport.

“Building an alternative fuels infrastructure network throughout the EU is not only critical to ensuring this is the first reality for heavy-duty vehicles, as zero-emission vehicles begin to enter the heavy-duty market, as it is impossible to introduce the take-up of zero-emission vehicles without this infrastructure network in place,” said Marian.

“With their commitment today, we are asking member states to step up and support an ambitious AFIR as well, as supported by the European Parliament,” she said.