FEMA wants dedicated safe and secure charging facilities for motorcycles to be part of Europe’s new Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation.

On 19 October 2022 the European Parliament adopted the new Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation. With that, new steps are set to provide the users of electric vehicles (EVs) with a better infrastructure to charge or fuel their vehicles.

The proposed new regulation states the importance of “the creation of a comprehensive network of recharging and refuelling infrastructure based on a geographically fair manner to enable the widespread uptake of low- and zero-emission vehicles in all transport modes.”

One of the elements of the new regulation, that has a direct effect, contrary to the present 2014 Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Directive that worked through implementation of national laws by the member states, are charging points on at least every 60 kilometres along the motorways. If the European Committee and the member states agree with the European Parliament, this target would be reached in 2026. The discussions with the Commission and the member states united in the Council of the European Union, the so-called trialogue, will start in the week of 24 October 2022.

‘Policymakers should make sure  motorcyclists are provided with suitable, safe, and secure charging facilities.’

Although L-category vehicles, like motorcycles, are mentioned a few times in the new regulation, the only special provisions that are made for L-category vehicles is that it should be possible to charge a vehicle with a common household power outlet. However, no minimum standards are formulated here. This is much less than we, together with ACEM (the European motorcycle manufacturers’ association) and FIM Europe, had asked for. We demanded dedicated safe and secure (both in terms of social safety and anti-theft protection) charging facilities for motorcycles.

The current charging poles are provided with parking spaces for cars that are much too big for motorcycles, which can cause problems with car drivers who claim this space too. But perhaps more important are the risks of theft when a motorcycle is left on a parking lot without any protection, surveillance, or provisions to avoid theft of the motorcycle. The present EV charging facilities along the motorways are also often situated far from the main service facilities, which causes unsafe situations for riders.

FEMA general secretary Dolf Willigers said: “If policymakers want us to ride electric motorcycles, the least they should do is to include motorcycles in the infrastructure legislation and see that motorcyclists are provided with suitable, safe, and secure charging facilities. Despite our efforts, the rapporteur Ismail Ertug and all the shadow rapporteurs have ignored the motorcyclists in their draft report. Our hope is now with the member states”.

Top photograph courtesy of Roelof Veldhuis

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