UK Set to Become Less Cleaner Thanks to EU

EU Shelves Official Targets for Number of EV and Hydrogen Stations

The EU has shelved proposals for a number of hydrogen filling stations and electric charging points that member countries must install by 2020. The UK was facing a 64,000 EV charge point shortfall, but that is not a problem anymore as the proposals have been dropped under the new directive. EU lawmakers have decided to drop the official targets and stopped from placing binding rules on European countries in the new alternative fuels law.

Instead, Governments must develop national action plans and install an “appropriate number of electric recharging points accessible to the public” by the end of 2020. It means the EU’s “e-mobility” will evolve at an uneven rate across the continent, with reviews only scheduled for 2017 and 2018.

However, UK is still pressing ahead in bolstering its charging network even though there are now no EU-wide targets. Government is pressing ahead with £9million Go Ultra Low campaign which will allow more than 200 extra charge points to be put in place this year, although there is no help for hydrogen filling stations yet.

Transport & Environment, a Campaign group has criticised the latest law, rejecting it as a “dead letter”, because it will do nothing to fairly compete with oil in transport energy. A spokesman for Transport & Environment, said: “It’s unfortunate that this emperor ended up having no clothes because Governments could not accept binding commitments for low-carbon charging infrastructure.

“Europe can and should do better and initiate a comprehensive strategy on e-mobility. This continent needs to join the race for clean innovation, cut its €300billion oil import bill and reduce CO2 emissions as soon as possible.” The EU alternative fuel law will come into force later this month.