site.btaMEP Petar Vitanov: Shift to Cleaner Transport Goes Hand in Hand with Infrastructure Development

The shift towards cleaner transport goes hand in hand with the building of the corresponding infrastructure. In some places, the electrification of land transport is proceeding at a fast rate, while in others it is lagging behind for a number of reasons. The regulation that the European Parliament has voted on must build an alternative fuels infrastructure that is evenly distributed across the European Union. This will ensure that decarbonisation develops more coherently, Petar Vitanov, head of the Delegation of Bulgarian Socialists in the European Parliament, said in a BTA interview.

He commented on the new rules adopted earlier this week, providing for more alternative fuel stations for cars and trucks, easier refuelling and cleaner marine fuels. The new regulations are part of the "Fit for 55 Package" package, the European Union's plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by the end of the decade compared to 1990 levels.

The Bulgarian MEP was EP rapporteur on alternative fuels infrastructure. Asked to what extent different member states differed in their readiness to respond to the new EU rules and where Bulgaria stood in the process, Vitanov said a third of EU charging stations were concentrated in three countries - Germany, the Netherlands and France.

"Indeed, there is a discrepancy because in some places the electrification of land transport is proceeding at a rapid pace, while in others it is lagging behind for a number of reasons. The lack of infrastructure is hindering market penetration, which is necessary to be able to have economies of scale that will make this transport more easily accessible and cheaper," Vitanov explained.

Bulgaria still has too few electric cars, he said, adding: "Although we have a 100% growth in sales compared to a year earlier, electric cars in our country are less than 1% of newly purchased cars. In Western Europe, we have over 10% electric cars in the new car market."

However, according to Vitanov, "we must be ready to meet the requirements, otherwise we risk becoming an economic desert, falling into isolation despite our excellent geographical position. Charging stations mean, above all, economics. When Romanians come to our country to holiday at the seaside in electric cars of their own manufacture, they must have somewhere to charge up. In order to move goods from A to B, you have to create the infrastructure for heavy goods vehicles."

 “Because of the low purchasing power of Bulgarian citizens, buying an electric car is a luxury that few can afford. To change this, the infrastructure needs to be built. Only the development of technology will make the price lower for ordinary citizens,” the Bulgarian MEP stressed and expressed confidence that "with a good strategy we will not fall behind other countries".

Vitanov also said that the regulation voted by the European Parliament stipulates that the new charging stations should be universally accessible and not fit to one car make only.

"This is going to happen for all new charging stations. Moreover, the law provides for a transparent payment method. Charging station operators will be required to price on a per kWh or per time basis and provide card payments," he said.

An information system will also be set up "so that all Europeans know where we can fill up with alternative fuel and at what price".

Asked whether the balance between electricity supply and demand would be maintained if the EU's land transport electrification targets were met, Vitanov said an increase of "at least 11% in electricity use is expected as a result of transport electrification. This means that electricity demand will increase. So every country should make a plan for this in due course as well."

According to him, it is important for Bulgaria to have a strategy on how it will develop its market, which energy capacities it will rely on after the closure of its thermal power plants. "My opinion is that the basic capacities should be provided through the development of nuclear energy - a topic around which there is a growing national consensus," Vitanov further said.

Asked whether the electricity grid in the EU and in Bulgaria in particular will be able to withstand the growing demand for electricity, in view of the development of electric mobility, he replied that this is one of the key issues that needs to be addressed. "Many member states are already investing in expanding their electricity grid, in creating smart grid systems," he said.

The MEP also recommended encouraging the purchase of vehicles that use alternative fuels. “This is being done in 25 EU countries. They have incentives for purchasing electric cars. In this respect our country is seriously lagging behind, he warned. Such a policy is not even in place for vehicles for the administration, police and other state structures,” he said.