The initiative by the EU transport commissioner Siim Kallas to increase the number of recharging and refuelling points for vehicles that run on alternative fuels has run into problems, with several transport ministers refusing to commit to spending the necessary money.
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Meeting earlier this month, several EU states objected to the amount of money needed to realise these goals by 2020 (€10 billion in total), particularly an obligation that 10% of charging points be ‘publicly accessible’. A spokesperson for the Irish presidency said there was a reluctance to spend large sums of money on a technology that was not proven and might become obsolete relatively quickly.
Europe must stand firm over its future targets for carmakers as it cannot afford to fall further behind China.
A new briefing assesses carmakers’ implementation of the EU Batteries Regulation due diligence obligations.
A proposed reform will not deliver the necessary overhaul of EU state aid rules, say civil society, researchers and industry.