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Motorcyclists want dedicated charging infrastructure

Electric vehicles like motorcycles and mopeds offer a solution to many of the present and future challenges in urban mobility. That is why they need dedicated charging infrastructure with secure parking places.

Part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package that the European Commission launched in July 2021 is a revision of the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Directive and it will be turned into a regulation, which is a binding legislative act. In the draft regulation the Commission proposes binding targets for electric vehicle charging points and hydrogen refuelling points, telling EU Member States they will have to provide for minimum coverage of publicly accessible refuelling and/or charging points.

Motorcycle rider organisations and the industry noticed that, even though we earlier filed our views in the public consultations from the European Commission, the proposal from the European Commission was entirely focussed on cars and trucks, so called M- and N-category vehicles.

The draft regulation does not include L-category vehicles, like motorcycles, mopeds and other small vehicles. For this reason, ACEM, FEMA and FIM Europe decided to take joint action and try to include motorcycles in the new regulation. We sent messages with proposed amendments to the draft regulation to several members of the European Parliament, members of national parliaments and attachés of Permanent Representatives (the “Embassies” of the member states at the European Union).

In our letter, we asked for:

  • Accelerated development of recharging infrastructure for L-category vehicles, especially in the urban and peri-urban environments.
  • Members States should support and engage in the roll out of DC charging infrastructure, following the requirements as specified by EN/IEC 61851-25:2021 next to AC charging infrastructure, and swappable battery infrastructure for L-category vehicles.
  • Member States must also ensure a minimum coverage of publicly accessible and secure recharging points dedicated to L-category vehicles in their territory. With secure, we mean that charging points should be designed in such a way as to protect vehicles while charging.
  • Finally, we demand targets for 31 December 2025, 2030, and 2035 for electric recharging infrastructure for L-category vehicles: number of recharging stations and power output.

Comments from FEMA General Secretary Dolf Willigers: “Electric small vehicles like motorcycles, mopeds and small three- and four-wheeled vehicles offer a solution to many of the present and future challenges in urban mobility. They need dedicated or at least suitable charging infrastructure with secure parking places. It is strange that the Commission, while promoting the transition to electric vehicles, did not include L-category vehicles in the proposed new Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation. We count on the Parliament and the Member States (the Council) to correct this omission.”

Top photograph courtesy of Roelof Veldhuis

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