Brussels, 14 January 2020 – Vehicle manufacturers and fuel coalition call for consistency in defining alternative fuels that will drive the energy transition.
The EU’s long-term energy transition goals depend not just on developing new technologies but also on alternative-fuel solutions that already reduce harmful emissions. As the EU reframes important environment and energy legislation under the European Green Deal, it should not abandon clean, proven and cost-effective solutions such as sustainable renewable fuels and LPG.
That’s the message from a broad coalition of vehicle manufacturers and alternative-fuel producers and suppliers who, in a new joint declaration, call on the European Commission to take a technology-neutral approach in its upcoming review of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive. The coalition includes ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association), Liquid Gas Europe, ePURE (the European renewable ethanol association), EBB (the European Biodiesel Board) and UPEI (representing European independent fuel suppliers).
“It is imperative that all alternative fuels play a role in the energy transition,” the coalition said today. “While it is important to set long-term objectives, Europe should not dismiss solutions that are already available, cost-effective, commercially viable and that positively contribute to the energy transition.”
The group urges the Commission to maintain its current definition of alternative fuels in the upcoming review of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive, guaranteeing consistent policymaking and a stable investment environment. The Directive is intended to build the market for alternative fuels, such as Autogas (LPG as transport fuel) and sustainable renewable fuels (such as ethanol, biodiesel and biogas), which have already reached a certain degree of maturity, and to jump-start a market for newcomers, such as electromobility and hydrogen.
Currently, alternative-fuelled vehicles represent a small but growing percentage of the EU fleet. Meanwhile road transport GHG emissions continue to rise, and many countries are in breach of air quality standards. That means the EU will need to do a better job of mobilising solutions that work today in addition to supporting the market development for new technologies and related infrastructure.
Given the urgency of the climate and air quality crisis, the EU needs to take a practical approach. This includes promoting cleaner-burning fuels that are already commercially viable and competitively priced, that deliver immediate benefits, and that do not require drastic and costly changes to infrastructure or powertrain technologies.
Read the full declaration here.
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Notes for editors
- ACEA represents the 16 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus manufacturers: BMW Group, CNH Industrial, DAF Trucks, Daimler, Ferrari, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Jaguar Land Rover, PSA Group, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, Volvo Cars, and Volvo Group.
- More information can be found on www.acea.be or www.twitter.com/ACEA_eu.
- Contact: Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.be, +32 2 738 73 45 or +32 485 88 66 47.
About the EU automobile industry
- 13.8 million Europeans work in the auto industry (directly and indirectly), accounting for 6.1% of all EU jobs.
- 11.4% of EU manufacturing jobs – some 3.5 million – are in the automotive sector.
- Motor vehicles account for €428 billion in taxes in the EU15 countries alone.
- The automobile industry generates a trade surplus of €84.4 billion for the EU.
- The turnover generated by the auto industry represents over 7% of EU GDP.
- Investing €57.4 billion in R&D annually, the automotive sector is Europe’s largest private contributor to innovation, accounting for 28% of total EU spending.