VDA Calls for Urgent Expansion of Charging Infrastructure for Zero-Emission Trucks

The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) is calling for the urgent expansion of charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure to support the market introduction of climate-friendly commercial vehicles. The association stated that high-performance infrastructure is a key prerequisite for bringing innovation to the road, warning that inadequate infrastructure is now the key bottleneck for electric and hydrogen trucks.

According to the VDA, Europe will need approximately 35,000 publicly accessible Megawatt Charging System (MCS) fast-charging points and up to 50,000 truck-suitable charging points by 2030. Germany alone requires an estimated 4,000 MCS charging points. Current infrastructure across the EU, with only 730 charging points above 350 kW dedicated exclusively to heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and Germany's 355 charging points across 88 locations, falls significantly short of these needs.

VDA President Hildegard Müller stated that manufacturers have already brought battery-electric trucks with ranges exceeding 500 kilometers and hydrogen trucks with ranges of 700 to 800 kilometers to market. However, Müller emphasized that policymakers must accelerate the development of public charging, depot charging, power grid expansion, and hydrogen refueling networks.

The association also advocates for stronger targets within the EU's Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and an earlier review of CO₂ fleet rules for heavy-duty vehicles. Furthermore, the VDA requests faster permitting for depot charging, coordinated hydrogen infrastructure across Member States, and operating cost advantages, such as CO₂-based toll differentiation, to support investments in zero-emission trucks.

The VDA expresses concern that the ambitious CO₂ reduction targets for heavy-duty vehicles set by the European Commission do not align with the current pace of infrastructure development. The association urges the EU and national governments to significantly accelerate the rollout of charging infrastructure to ensure the future of zero-emission transportation.