Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 63 | Page 52

COUNTRY FOCUS : GERMANY
The guidelines create a flexible , fit-for-purpose enabling framework to help Member States provide the necessary support to reach the Green Deal objectives in a targeted and cost-effective manner . The rules involve an alignment with the important EU ’ s objectives and targets set out in the European Green Deal and with other recent regulatory changes in the energy and environmental areas and cater for the increased importance of climate protection . They include sections on aid for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions including through support for renewable energy , energy efficiency measures , aid for clean mobility , infrastructure , circular economy , pollution reduction , protection and restoration of biodiversity , as well as measures to ensure security of energy supply , subject to certain conditions .
The 2022 CEEAG aim to help Member States meet the EU ’ s ambitious energy and climate targets at the least possible cost for taxpayers and without undue distortions of competition in the Single Market .
With the European Green Deal Communication in 2019 , the Commission reinforced its climate ambitions , setting an objective of net zero emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 . The European Climate Law in force since July 2021 , which enshrines the 2050 climate neutrality objective and introduces the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 , sets the ground for the ‘ Fit for 55 ’ legislative proposals presented by the Commission on July 14 , 2021 . Among these proposals , the Commission has presented amendments of the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive with more ambitious binding annual targets to increase the production of energy from renewable sources and reduce energy use at EU level .
In line with this , Volkswagen Group has already set up more than 15,000 HPC points around the world .
The Volkswagen Group recently completed an interim assessment of its global network of fast-charging points around the world . At the end of 2022 , more than one-third of the 45,000 high-power charging ( HPC ) points that the company plans to install had been connected to the network – a total of about 15,000 fast chargers with a charging capacity of up to 350 kW . At Power Day 2021 , the group announced its plan to become the first international car manufacturer that would create a global HPC network that all electric vehicles could use as part of an alliance with the company ’ s partners . Under this plan , about 10,000 HPC points are to be operating in Europe and up to 25,000 around the world by the end of 2023 .
Thomas Schmall , Volkswagen Group Board Member for Technology and CEO of Volkswagen Group Components , stressed one point about the company ’ s work : “ Volkswagen started creating this global fastcharging network years ago . We are now among the trailblazers in electric mobility and we have 15,000 fastcharging points in North America , China and Europe to prove it . It is an accomplishment that we achieved jointly with our industry and energy-sector partners . We consider charging to be not only a precondition for e-mobility , but also a high-potential strategic business area of the future . We intend to expand it even further in the future .”
The fast-charging points in Europe are being installed in part with the help of IONITY , a joint venture involving the group brands , Audi and Volkswagen Passenger Cars , as well as the sports-car maker , Porsche .
Last year , the group also announced the establishment of Ewiva , a joint venture in Italy with Enel X Way , a member of the Enel Group . Volkswagen is also installing fast-charging points in a partnership with BP and Iberdrola . Working with BP , the group plans to install about 8,000 fast-charging points across Europe . This network is being equipped with the Flexpole fast-charging station produced by Volkswagen Components , among other systems . The group is working with Iberdrola to cover main traffic arteries in Spain . In the US , the expansion of the group ’ s electric infrastructure is being overseen by Electrify America , the largest public fast-charging network in North America . In China , this work is being performed by the joint venture CAMS . As the company announced at Power Day , Volkswagen and its partners plan to expand the network to 45,000 HPC stations by 2025 : 18,000 HPC stations in Europe , 10,000 in North America and 17,000 in China .
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