The Autogas Message is heard at the Heart of the EU
By Arnaud Duvielguerbigny, AEGPL, Brussels
With a view to fostering the emergence of a more competitive, secure and sustainable transport model, the European Union has made the promotion of clean and efficient vehicles a top policy priority over the past year. In its dual role as a legislator and a developer of policy strategies for the consideration of its constituent Member States, the EU has a significant impact on the national policy frameworks in which all European LP Gas operators do business. It is therefore encouraging to see highly positive references to autogas in the recently published EU Competitiveness Council conclusions on clean and efficient vehicles. There is no doubt that the autogas message is being heard in Brussels and this is positive for the LP Gas business all over the European Union.
Since 2009, the AEGPL has undertaken a corresponding campaign aimed at ensuring that the potential contribution of autogas to this objective is recognized and understood. Alongside the gradual emergence of electric (and, in the long term, hydrogen) vehicles, the Council explicitly acknowledges the scientific and market evidence that alternative fuels “including liquid biofuels and gaseous fuels (such as LPG, CNG, and biogas)” have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of road transport. In order to speed up the market uptake of clean and efficient vehicles, the Council calls on public authorities to “provide the appropriate support framework” with a view to “creating business confidence, which is necessary for investment and production decisions”. The conclusions note that the European Union should take leadership in “supporting the roll-out and consumer acceptance of alternative power-trains and energy efficient vehicles” but also refers to the important role to be played by national, regional, and local authorities across the EU.
In order to guide consumers towards more sustainable choices, the Council calls on the Commission to “rapidly come up with guidelines on potential financial incentives for consumers to buy green vehicles…without giving preference to any particular technology”.
This last clause demonstrates that the danger of an “electric-only” policy has been avoided which is good news for the LP Gas industry. Autogas is and will be eligible for inclusion in schemes designed to support the proliferation of clean and efficient vehicles, both at European level and in each individual Member State. This type of positive development demonstrates both the tangible impact of the AEGPL’s efforts to reposition autogas in Europe through communications initiatives and out reach programmes such as the Autogas Roadmap and its autogas video among others, and looking forward, the need to continue this process.
The AEGPL encourages its members to carry on pursuing parallel contacts with their respective national and local authorities in order to ensure that the broad vision being developed in Brussels translates to sustained growth and progress for autogas in the field.
For more information on AEGPL, please visit www.aegpl.eu and to contact Arnaud directly, please email arnaud.duvielguerbigny@aegpl.be
