The European Union (EU) must deploy one million electric vehicle charging points in the next three years, the region’s car lobby said on Thursday.

In a joint letter to the EU climate, transport, industry, and energy commissioners, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), Transport & Environment (T&E), and the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), called for this year’s revision of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure law to require the rollout of 3 million charging points across the EU by 2029.

The letter said that setting targets would “send a strong signal” to consumers that the number of public charging points are in line with the surging sales of electric vehicles across Europe.

It also said that targets would “grant much needed certainty” to the automotive industry, as well as clarity for grid operators, re-charging infrastructure operators, and transport companies.

The ECEA said that the proposal could aid the creation of one million jobs across the continent while helping the EU meet its climate goals.

Targets should be allocated to each country based on a simple and fair methodology that takes into account factors like how much private charging is available, the letter said.

The three groups urged the EU to “address the growing needs of EV drivers with no or little access to private charging, as well as electric taxis and ride-hailing services, by setting targets for fast and ultra-fast chargers in urban areas.”

The joint letter also called for the law should to set a target of around 1,000 hydrogen stations by 2029.

“European automakers are driving the transition to e-mobility and are literally outperforming each other in launching new electric vehicles,” said Oliver Zipse, ACEA president and chief executive of BMW. "But the success of this huge effort is seriously threatened by the delayed installation of charging infrastructure in the EU. The EU Commission quickly needs to take action and set binding targets for the ramp-up of charging infrastructure in the member states.

He added: "Otherwise, even the current reduction targets in fighting climate change are at risk. In addition to public charging infrastructure, we also need to put a stronger focus on workplace and home charging.”

William Todts, executive director at T&E, said: “If we're serious about global warming we need to go electric fast. To speed up the transition we need ubiquitous and easy charging not just in Norway and the Netherlands but all across Europe.EV charging targets per country are a great way to make that happen and the Commission should stop dragging its feet over this.”

Monique Goyens, director general at BEUC, said: “It must be as easy to charge an electric car as it is to fuel a petrol one. Having sufficient – and convenient – charging infrastructure is the highway towards consumer confidence and uptake of electric cars. Policymakers should therefore tackle practical concerns, such as displaying charging tariffs in price per kilowatt hour and allowing commonly available payment methods.”

The organisations also said that the European Commission should replace the directive with a regulation as it would help harmonise re-charging standards, payment methods for consumers, tariff transparency, maintenance, and other issues.

Regulation would also allow for swift implementation of the new targets while a directive would require their transposition into national law, which can take years, they said.

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