ACEM statement - Charging of electric powered-two wheelers: a step in the right direction

21 Oct 2022

ACEM statement - Charging of electric powered-two wheelers: a step in the right direction

On Wednesday, 19 October 2022, the European Parliament adopted Ismail Ertug MEP's report on the European Commission’s proposal for an Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation. Negotiations with the Member States (Council of the EU) will start soon, with the aim of reaching final adoption before the end of the year.

ACEM welcomes the outcome of the European Parliament’s vote, as this Regulation is the key to furthering support the fast roll-out of recharging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

ACEM particularly welcomes that the adopted amendments enhance the recognition of electric Powered Two-Wheelers (PTWs) by:

• Requesting the European Commission to review the need to include requirements for charging infrastructure to serve electric PTWs, “in particular the opportunity to equip charging infrastructure with a household power socket that makes it possible for such vehicles to be easily charged, since they represent a mode of transport that can help further reduce CO2 emissions and air pollution”;

• Requiring national authorities to adopt measures to promote the use of electric PTWs, such as e-mopeds, within their National Policy Frameworks;

• Asking Member States to report on the deployment of electric recharging infrastructure for L-category vehicles, both in terms of number of recharging stations and their power output.

Quote

Commenting on the result of the European Parliament’s vote, ACEM Secretary General, Antonio Perlot said:

“This is a crucial first step towards the adoption of a robust legal framework to support the fast deployment of charging infrastructure for electric two-wheelers and other vehicles across Europe”.

“If one regret, the Report falls short on the issue of ensuring security when recharging electric vehicles. As stressed by the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) and ACEM in the past, charging stations should be equipped with anti-theft protections or surveillance systems to deter theft of motorcycles while they are being recharged”.

Background information

In July 2021 the European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation replacing the 2014 Directive on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure.

The file was handled by the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN). The rapporteur is Ismail Ertug (S&D, Germany).

The draft report was published on 14 February 2022 and presented to the TRAN Committee on 14 March 2022.

On 2 June 2022, the Council of the EU adopted its General Approach, i.e. its position for negotiations with the Parliament on the final wording of the new rules.