German transport minister calls for uniform Europe-wide e-car charging infrastructure

German transport minister Andreas Scheuer has called for a “well-developed and cross-border network of [charging] stations in Europe which guarantees uncomplicated and fast recharging” for electric and hydrogen cars, Focus Online reports. Speaking at a virtual conference organised by the German EU Council presidency, Scheuer said that “by electrifying transport alone, we can save millions of tons of CO2”. He also said he wants to tackle the issue of payment at these charging points. “In addition to building up the grid, we have a lot of other things planned, especially in terms of customer friendliness,” the politician explained. “We want a Europe-wide standardised payment system for electricity charging and hydrogen refuelling.”

Media has reported that the German Council presidency is looking to reform the EU directive on development of infrastructure for alternative fuels (AFID) to incorporate Scheuer’s ideas for a more uniform charging infrastructure. Germany itself is struggling with a lack of charging stations in its rollout of electric mobility. While the country aims to have seven to ten million electric cars on the roads by 2030, the sector grapples not only with overall numbers of charging points but also with local electricity monopolies that have resulted in huge price differences at electric vehicle charging stations.