Back to the future vehicles
In
January 2013 the European Commission proposed a new Directive pursuant to which
the Member States would be required to set up a specific minimum of alternative
fuels stations (electricity, hydrogen and natural gas) across the EU, with
common standards. This would enable European consumers to easier choose for
alternative fuels vehicles, since they would be assured they could use them
with ease traveling in the EU. Currently, the problem is that not many
refueling stations are built since not enough consumers purchase such vehicles,
while consumers do not choose for these vehicles due to lack of support system.
On Tuesday the European Parliament´s Transport Committee voted in these
measures. The MEPs proposal strengthened Commission’s, e.g., by requiring that
consumers were better informed about the different prices of fuels offered, so
that they could easily compare them; that the colors of hoses and nuzzles were harmonized
across the EU facilitating consumer use thereof; that electricity was made
available at airports and that consumers could recharge electric vehicles
during off-peak times, when prices are lower. The Commission criticizes,
however, the lack of provisions on recharging points not accessible to the
public, as potentially reducing the consumers’ confidence in the electric cars
market. (Alternative fuels for transport: Parliament committee vote supportsroll-out of refueling infrastructure)
In
January 2013 the European Commission proposed a new Directive pursuant to which
the Member States would be required to set up a specific minimum of alternative
fuels stations (electricity, hydrogen and natural gas) across the EU, with
common standards. This would enable European consumers to easier choose for
alternative fuels vehicles, since they would be assured they could use them
with ease traveling in the EU. Currently, the problem is that not many
refueling stations are built since not enough consumers purchase such vehicles,
while consumers do not choose for these vehicles due to lack of support system.
On Tuesday the European Parliament´s Transport Committee voted in these
measures. The MEPs proposal strengthened Commission’s, e.g., by requiring that
consumers were better informed about the different prices of fuels offered, so
that they could easily compare them; that the colors of hoses and nuzzles were harmonized
across the EU facilitating consumer use thereof; that electricity was made
available at airports and that consumers could recharge electric vehicles
during off-peak times, when prices are lower. The Commission criticizes,
however, the lack of provisions on recharging points not accessible to the
public, as potentially reducing the consumers’ confidence in the electric cars
market. (Alternative fuels for transport: Parliament committee vote supportsroll-out of refueling infrastructure) 
