At the August GEVA meeting, the Policy Manager at the European Association for Electromobility (AVERE), gave an excellent overview of various policy initiatives taking place in the European Union, including:

• CO2 emission standards for cars, vans, and heavy duty vehicles;
• Alternative fuels infrastructure: targets for light-duty and heavy duty vehicles as well as transparency, payment options, smart charging readiness, pre-cabling solutions and charging points for users;
• Renewable energy directives, including credit trading mechanisms and energy efficiency in residential and non-residential buildings; and
• Battery regulation, including extended producer responsibility (recycling and remanufacturing), critical raw materials act, battery management systems to determine battery lifetime, and carbon footprint declaration through labeling.

Of these policies, many have been adopted while others are in development. Unfortunately Ireland isn’t yet a player in this. Something for us to pick up with ZEVI.