Climate Lobbying Overview: In 2021-23, the European Association for Electromobility (AVERE) had active, positive engagement with climate change policy in the EU. AVERE has advocated for more ambitious EU CO2 emissions standards for light and heavy-duty vehicles, a phase-out of light duty ICE vehicles by 2030, and heavy duty before 2035, and the ambitious roll-out of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: AVERE’s top-line communications in 2021-22 have been positive. In a July 2021 discussion paper, AVERE communicated support for the EU’s Green Deal and achieving net-zero CO2 emissions in the transport sector by 2050. AVERE’s 2021 Annual report further appeared supportive of the EU’s “landmark” Fit for 55 package. A 2022 joint letter, signed by AVERE, also appeared supportive of the goals of the Paris Agreement while advocating for “ambitious” climate legislation aligned with the 2050 carbon-neutrality target. AVERE’s Secretary General, Philippe Vangeel, appeared to advocate for national and European policy to facilitate a transition to e-mobility at the June 2022 Electric Summit.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: In 2021-23, AVERE frequently advocated for more ambitious CO2 standards for light-duty vehicles in the EU. In comments on the EU’s Climate Law Roadmap, AVERE stated “we will need stronger 2030 and 2040 CO2 targets…for cars and vans”. AVERE also advocated to bring the zero-emissions EU CO2 target forward to 2030 and set an interim 2027 target in a July 2021 press release. Similarly, AVERE encouraged the ENVI committee to support a 100% CO2 reduction target “no later than 2035” and more ambitious interim CO2 targets in a 2022 joint letter and urged EU governments to align with the EU Commission’s proposed 2035 date in a June 2022 Twitter post. A joint letter signed by AVERE in October 2022 further supported a 2035 EU zero-emissions CO2 target and advocated against a loophole allowing ICE-powered vehicles to continue using e-fuels after 2035.

AVERE also appear to support more ambitious heavy-duty CO2 standards in the EU. In response to a March 2022 EU public consultation, AVERE advocated for a 2030 zero-emissions heavy-duty CO2 standard, accepting 2035 as the latest date. A 2022 position paper also advocated for more ambitious interim CO2 emissions targets, stating that a zero-emissions CO2 target should be set for heavy-duty vehicles in 2035 “at the latest”.

In a 2022 position paper, AVERE advocated for increased ambition of overall and transport-specific targets under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and an additionality principle for renewable electricity, while appearing unsupportive of the proposed switch to a GHG-based mandate. AVERE appeared to advocate for maintaining current electricity multipliers instead of a GHG-based mandate in a 2022 joint letter, while supporting reforms to further incentivize electrification. A joint position paper from the Electrification Alliance in June 2021, signed by AVERE, advocated for more ambitious 2030 targets under RED.

In response to a June 2021 EU public consultation, AVERE supported strengthened requirements on the installation of charging points in car parks and for e-bikes under the Energy Performance for Buildings Directive (EPBD). AVERE further advocated for more ambitious EV charging point targets for non-residential buildings in a 2022 reaction paper and supported extending the scope to support the electrification of heavy-duty vehicles in an October 2021 position paper. A June 2021 joint position paper, signed by AVERE, also supported the electrification of heating and cooling.

Regarding other EU policies, AVERE appears unsupportive of extending the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to road transport and asserted that “emissions trading adds new costs on citizens for transport, but provides insufficient incentives to switch to fossil-free transport” in a July 2021 press release. In a December 2021 presentation, AVERE’s policy officer further described the extension as “quite problematic”. Additionally, a June 2021 position paper by the Electrification Alliance. AVERE Secretary General, Philippe Vangeel, also appeared to support a modal shift from private to public transport at the June 2022 Electric Summit.

Positioning on Energy Transition: AVERE strongly supports the electrification of road transport in 2021-23, communicating support for the phase-out of light-duty and heavy-duty ICE vehicles before 2035. AVERE called for the phase-out of ICE vehicles by 2030 and “the elimination of new ICE trucks by 2035 at the latest” in a May 2022 press release. AVERE further stated that a 2030 phase-out for light-duty vehicles “is not only feasible, but the only secure path to attaining EU and Paris Climate targets” in a December 2021 position paper. In addition, AVERE advocated for the EU to phase-out ICE-powered light duty vehicles by 2030 and 2035 at the latest in press releases from July 2021, and April 2021, alongside a July 2022 Op-ed by Secretary General, Philippe Vangeel. In March 2023, AVERE signed a joint letter advocating for EU states to adopt a stringent EU zero-emissions 2035 CO2 target for cars and vans without an e-fuels loophole. Vangeel also appeared to support California’s 2035 phase-out of ICE light-duty vehicles in a September 2022 LinkedIn post. A January 2022 discussion paper opposed the use of transitional fossil fuels, arguing they will “set up the EU for climate failure” and a 2022 joint letter, signed by AVERE, advocated for synthetic fuels to instead be used in maritime and aviation.

AVERE also appears to support the rapid deployment of charging infrastructure. In a December 2021 position paper supported more ambitious nationally-binding targets for charging infrastructure for light and heavy-duty vehicles under the AFIR.