In a joint letter to state ambassadors, the associations expressed concerns over the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations (AFIR) general approach, agreed upon by the European Council.
“We are deeply concerned that by setting insufficient ambitions, in deployment targets for hydrogen refuelling and electricity recharging stations in road transport, as proposed in the general approach of the Council of the EU, the decarbonisation targets set in the Clean and Sustainable Mobility Strategy and in the specific transport climate targets of the Fit for 55 package will not be achievable,” the letter read.
Last week (December 6), Hydrogen Europe raised its concerns over the general approach, saying the guidelines for the development of the Trans-European Network of Transport (TEN-T) risks alienating alternative fuels, including hydrogen.
Read more: Hydrogen Europe raises concerns over TENT-T General Approach
Hydrogen Europe and ACEA have therefore called for member states to show support for the ambition to deploy hydrogen refuelling stations under the AFIR:
One hydrogen refuelling station every 100 km on both TEN-T core and comprehensive networks
At least one 700 bar dispenser on each hydrogen refuelling station
One hydrogen refuelling station for liquid hydrogen every 400 km
At least one hydrogen refuelling station in each urban node
Infrastructure on core network and in urban nodes to be in place by 31 December 2027
In October (2022), the European Parliament voted in favour to retain the AFIR ambition to establish hydrogen refuelling stations with a maximum distance of 100km between each other.
The letter has said, current Council targets will not allow minimum targets for the rollout of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles wil not be achieved, saying, “Hydrogen Europe estimates that with the current Council position a maximum fleet of around 8,000 trucks would be able to be refuelled each day by 2030.”
Additionally, the letter calls for hydrogen refuelling stations to have mandatory daily capacity of two tonnes, ensuring security of supply.
Hydrogen Europe and ACEA say, “This change towards zero emission mobility is obviously creating an enormous opportunity for EU and national economies to grow. The ambition set by industry stakeholders for a swift market uptake of hydrogen-powered vehicles, must now be matched with a similar ambition level to ensure the necessary hydrogen refuelling infrastructure becomes available.”
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