Commission prepares Action Plan for Alternative Fuels

Publication date: 28 January 2004

The European Commission is currently drafting a proposal for a Directive to launch an Action Plan aiming at the development of a market for alternative fuels. The draft Directive is due to be published in March 2004 and will require Member States to compile action plans to promote alternative fuels in order to start a transition away from today's high dependence on oil in the transport sector and to reduce CO2 emissions.

Background:
Following its 2001 Communication on Alternative Fuels (COM(2001) 547 final - COD(2001)0265), the European Commission set up a stakeholder Contact Group in 2002 to advise on technical and economic status and developments of alternative fuels for road transport, and on measures by which the Community could promote their use. The Contact Group published its final report in December 2003.

com2001_547_alternative_fuels.pdf (306 KB)

alternative_fuels_report.pdf (413 KB)

The report states that alternative motor fuels have a potential of gaining significant market share within the next decades. Estimates for the main alternative fuels arrive at potentials for biomass derived fuels of 15%, natural gas 10%, LPG 5% and hydrogen a few per cent by 2020. But it also concludes that vigorous and long-term guaranteed action plans across the whole Union are required to build a sufficient market pull from the customer side.

The report of the Alternative Fuels Contact Group was largely based on a well-to-wheels study examine the viability of every option of fuel provision. 75 different pathways from primary energy sources have been investigated.

welltowheels_analysis.pdf (555 KB)