The EU wants a charging station every 60 km on highways

The European Parliament has voted in favor of legislation mandating EU countries to accelerate the deployment of charging stations for electric vehicles.

After approving the ban on the sale of thermal cars in 2035, the European Union must advance on infrastructure. But with what agenda? The European Parliament specified the modalities of the charging and hydrogen stations component, integrated into the “Fit for 55” plan (−55% CO₂ by 2035).

A sufficient highway network by 2026?

Member states have thus voted the text calling for the installation of a minimum of electric charging stations on European highways. They want “one electric charging station for cars should be set up every 60 kilometers along the main roads of the EU”. And this will also concern heavy trucks, as the text mentions the “ Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), with more powerful charging stations.”

But with what agenda? “Member states will need to present their strategy by 2024”, states the Parliament, and the network must be operational “by 2026”.

Hydrogen too

To diversify its options, the European Union is also betting on hydrogen. MEPs are pushing for stations every 100 kilometers (compared to 150 km proposed by the European Commission). The Parliament aims to accelerate the deployment of this network to 2028, instead of 2031.

Easy and transparent payment at charging stations

“The price per kWh or per kg should be communicated, affordable and comparable” at charging stations emphasizes the text. The price per minute, still used in some networks, should therefore disappear.

The Parliament also wants to establish “a European platform for data related to alternative fuels by 2027, providing information on availability, waiting times, and prices at different stations across Europe.” This could benefit various stakeholders and applications like ChargeMap, Freshmile, or Chargeprice.

Also read: Electric car: how much does charging cost?