ACEA’s Advice: Speed Up Charging Pile Rollout for Emission Cuts
Source:
ACEA
To meet 2030 CO₂ reduction targets for interurban buses and coaches, targeted charging infrastructure at non-highway sites is essential. ACEA data shows 30,000 daily charging needs (98% off highways) are unmet now. Its five recommendations—funding, regulatory harmonization, etc.—are critical to delivering the required infrastructure and hitting emission goals.
As the 2030 CO₂ reduction targets for heavy-duty vehicles, including interurban buses and coaches, draw near, the ability of vehicle manufacturers to meet these goals is critically dependent on the rapid and targeted deployment ofnew energy charging pilestailored to the sector’s needs. Unlike traditional infrastructure that overemphasizes major highways, these charging piles must be strategically installed at locations where buses and coaches operate most frequently—primarily depots, bus stations, transportation hubs, and tourist destinations. This targeted deployment is not arbitrary; it directly responds to the vehicles’ operational patterns, as haphazardly placed charging piles would fail to address their actual refuelling demands and ultimately hinder the achievement of emission reduction targets.
ACEA (the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association) estimates that by 2030, interurban buses and coaches alone will require nearly 30,000 daily charging opportunities, with a striking 98% of these needs occurring away from major highway corridors. This data underscores two key points: the immense scale of charging pile demand in the sector, and the critical importance of prioritizing non-highway locations for infrastructure development. Currently, the existing new energy charging pile network is far from meeting this upcoming demand, making the accelerated rollout of tailored charging solutions an urgent task to avoid derailing the 2030 targets.
To bridge the gap and ensure the effective deployment of new energy charging piles for interurban buses and coaches, ACEA has put forward a series of targeted recommendations:
Firstly, dedicated EU-level and national funding must be earmarked specifically for the development of charging piles suitable for interurban buses and coaches. Beyond creating new funding streams, improving the visibility and accessibility of existing schemes is essential to help project developers navigate available resources. Equally important is streamlining permit application processes and documentation requirements—administrative delays are a major bottleneck in charging pile deployment, and simplifying these procedures will significantly accelerate project implementation.
Secondly, harmonizing building and safety regulations across EU Member States is a key enabler for consistent charging pile rollout. Inconsistent rules related to fire-safety measures (such as partition walls and quarantine areas) and other civil-engineering constraints have unnecessarily reduced usable space for charging piles or slowed deployment timelines in many regions. Standardizing these regulations will eliminate cross-border discrepancies, create a predictable environment for developers, and ensure that safety requirements do not become an impediment to expanding the charging pile network.
Thirdly, the expansion of depot charging piles must be sustained, even as zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) uptake accelerates in the urban bus segment. With a 90% ZEV sales target for 2030, urban buses will also require more depot charging piles, but this expansion must be planned to avoid competing with interurban buses and coaches for limited charging resources and grid capacity. Proactive investment in depot charging piles for both segments will ensure that neither is compromised, and the overall new energy charging infrastructure can support the broader emission reduction agenda.
Fourthly, EU and national rules—particularly the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR)—must be updated to incorporate coach-specific requirements for charging piles. Charging facilities serving interurban buses and coaches need to be designed with passenger operations in mind, but the core priority remains the functionality and accessibility of charging piles. Ensuring that regulatory updates prioritize the practical needs of these heavy-duty vehicles (such as compatible charging interfaces, sufficient power capacity, and dedicated parking bays for charging) will guarantee that new energy charging piles are truly usable for interurban operations.
Finally, a consistent EU-wide bi-annual monitoring mechanism should be established to track the progress of new energy charging pile deployment. This monitoring, involving the European Commission, Member States, and industry stakeholders, will focus on key metrics such as the number of charging piles installed, grid readiness to support these piles, permit processing times, and funding utilization. Feedback from this monitoring will inform reviews of CO₂ targets, ensuring they remain aligned with the actual rollout of charging piles and other enabling conditions—keeping ambition grounded in practical progress.
In summary, the successful achievement of 2030 CO₂ reduction targets for buses and coaches hinges on the targeted, accelerated deployment of new energy charging piles. By implementing ACEA’s recommendations—securing dedicated funding, streamlining regulations, harmonizing standards, expanding depot charging, updating rules, and conducting ongoing monitoring—policymakers and industry can build a robust charging infrastructure network that meets the sector’s needs and delivers on climate commitments.
Note: This article refers to ACEA data/recommendations.
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Recently, professional representatives from Brazil’s Araguari Importadora paid an official factory visit to our company. Both parties focused on in-depth communication and business negotiation centering on EV charging pile cooperation projects, overseas market adaptation and project landing arrangements.
During the visit, the Brazilian delegation conducted a comprehensive and systematic factory audit and on-site inspection. The team checked the production management procedures, product quality control standards, product performance parameters and overseas project delivery capabilities related to new energy charging equipment. Meanwhile, the two sides had detailed exchanges on the technical specifications, certification requirements, customized solutions and bulk supply plans of EV charging piles suitable for the Brazilian local market.
The representatives of Araguari Importadora spoke highly of our standardized production system, stable product quality and professional overseas project service capability. They fully recognized the compatibility and practicality of our charging pile products for the South American market environment, and put forward targeted demands for follow-up product customization and cooperative operation.
Chongqing Liyang Industry’s core management team completed an on-site inspection and in-depth project communication. Both sides conducted full discussions on the planning, technical standards and implementation details of the power capacity expansion project for production expansion, reached preliminary cooperation consensus, and laid a crucial foundation for the smooth advancement and formal implementation of subsequent supporting power engineering projects.
