Charging operators warn grid delays emerging as key EV bottleneck

Europe’s electric vehicle charging industry warned that delays in securing grid connections are becoming a greater obstacle to charging deployment than charger availability itself, as the European Commission prepares its review of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).

Speaking at a ChargeUp Europe briefing, charging operators argued that public charging infrastructure is broadly keeping pace with current EV uptake and rejected suggestions that charger shortages are constraining adoption.

Instead, speakers repeatedly identified electricity network access as the main challenge facing future expansion. Ionity chief executive Jeroen van Tilburg said charging stations can be built within months, while grid connections can take years to secure. Industry representatives cited average waiting times of around three years across Europe, with significantly longer delays reported in some markets.

Fastned chief executive and ChargeUp Europe president Michiel Langezaal said charging is “not the bottleneck”, pointing instead to regulatory and grid-related constraints. GreenWay vice president Peter Badik called for greater transparency from distribution system operators regarding available capacity and connection timelines.

Despite these challenges, industry representatives remained optimistic about EV growth prospects, citing improving vehicle technology, faster charging capabilities and continued growth in EV registrations across key European markets.

Canfin proposes Made-in-EU incentives in automotive package debate

French Renew Europe MEP Pascal Canfin has proposed amendments to the European Commission’s automotive package, including incentives for EU-manufactured electric vehicles and measures to boost the second-hand EV market.

In a position paper published on Thursday, Canfin backed the Commission’s CO₂ trajectory for passenger cars and opposed efforts to weaken electrification targets, arguing that regulatory stability is needed to protect industry investment.

A central proposal is a “Made in EU” incentive system that would extend super-credits to electric vehicles manufactured in the EU, allowing them to count more heavily towards CO₂ compliance. Canfin also supports stricter local content rules, arguing that current Commission plans risk treating too many non-EU vehicles as European products.

He further proposes incentives for electric vehicle retrofits and measures to accelerate corporate fleet electrification, which he says would increase the supply of affordable second-hand EVs.

Canfin also wants member states to support used EV markets through fiscal incentives and social leasing schemes. Countries that fail to meet electrification objectives would face financial penalties under a proposed shared-responsibility mechanism.

The proposals form part of the European Parliament’s work on the Commission’s automotive package, with Parliament and member states expected to develop negotiating positions later this year.

eSAF coalition calls for fuel sovereignty strategy, market reforms

A group of European electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) developers has launched a coalition calling on EU policymakers to treat domestic sustainable fuel production as a strategic priority and introduce measures to support investment in synthetic aviation fuels.

Arcadia eFuels, INERATEC, Norsk e-Fuel, SkyNRG and ZAFFRA on Tuesday launched the European eSAF Coalition, arguing that Europe should strengthen its ability to produce aviation fuels domestically amid geopolitical instability, pressure on global supply chains and concerns over future dependence on imported synthetic fuels.

The coalition called for action in four areas: recognition of sustainable fuel production as strategic infrastructure, creation of long-term demand signals, support to bridge the cost gap between eSAF and conventional jet fuel, and reforms to improve access to airport fuel infrastructure.

The group said Europe currently accounts for more than 60% of announced global eSAF production capacity, with more than 40 projects announced following the adoption of ReFuelEU Aviation. However, it argued that many projects have struggled to reach final investment decisions because of insufficient demand certainty and limited financing support.

Among its proposals, the coalition called for long-term offtake agreements, demand aggregation mechanisms, public procurement measures and buyer-of-last-resort arrangements to help de-risk early projects and support market formation.

It also urged greater use of EU and national funding instruments, including revenues generated through the EU Emissions Trading System, to support domestic SAF and eSAF production. The coalition said financial mechanisms such as contracts for difference, double-sided auctions, production support schemes and investment guarantees would be required to accelerate deployment.

The coalition further argued that access to jet fuel infrastructure at European airports remains a barrier for new entrants. It called on the European Commission and member states to investigate infrastructure access conditions, introduce non-discriminatory third-party access requirements and accelerate the development of a SAF Book and Claim system.

The initiative adds to a broader policy debate in Brussels over the role of synthetic fuels in Europe’s industrial strategy. Earlier this year, speakers at a Green Mobility Magazine event on e-fuels argued that domestic fuel production should increasingly be considered through the lens of industrial competitiveness, strategic autonomy and energy security, alongside decarbonisation objectives.

The coalition said Europe should develop a broader fuel supply strategy linking climate, industrial, transport, energy and security policy, arguing that domestic fuel production is becoming a strategic issue for both civilian aviation and defence preparedness.

Member states call on Commission to develop European rail industry strategy

EU transport ministers have called on the European Commission to develop a dedicated European Railway Industry Strategy and strengthen public procurement rules, arguing that the rail supply sector is increasingly important for Europe’s industrial competitiveness, strategic autonomy and transport resilience.

The initiative, led by Austria and supported by Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Romania, was presented during a meeting of EU transport ministers on Thursday. Participating member states urged the Commission to adopt a strategic approach towards the rail supply industry comparable to recent industrial initiatives for the automotive and maritime sectors.

According to supporters, a dedicated strategy would help reinforce Europe’s rail manufacturing base and support delivery of future transport infrastructure projects across the bloc.

During the discussion, ministers highlighted the role of the railway industry in supporting transport sovereignty, critical infrastructure resilience and strategic autonomy. Several delegations also argued that public procurement rules should be strengthened to address concerns over market distortions, unequal access conditions and a lack of reciprocity in international competition.

The intervention comes ahead of the Commission’s expected publication of a new Public Procurement Act on 1 July. The College of Commissioners held an orientation debate on procurement reform on 3 June as preparations for the proposal continue.

Industry association UNIFE welcomed the initiative and called on additional member states to support the effort. Director General Enno Wiebe said the railway supply industry should be recognised as a strategic industrial sector and argued that procurement reforms must ensure fair competition while remaining proportionate and workable for industry.

Commission launches €1.5bn battery facility to support EU cell production

The European Commission has launched a €1.5bn Battery Booster Facility to help battery manufacturers scale up electric vehicle cell production in Europe.

The scheme, funded through the EU Innovation Fund, will provide interest-free loans during the early commercialisation phase of battery production. Individual projects can receive up to €500m, covering up to 60% of eligible ramp-up costs.

The Commission said the measure is designed to address challenges facing European battery producers, including global overcapacity, difficulties achieving scale and competition from subsidised manufacturers outside the EU.

Support is limited to battery cell manufacturing projects in the European Economic Area, with applicants required to have at least 10 GWh of planned annual production capacity and already be in the ramp-up phase.

Funding will be awarded through a competitive process assessing financial viability, technical maturity and contributions to the resilience of the European battery supply chain.