The European Parliament endorsed a draft directive this week that would require EU member states to ensure that specified numbers of public EV chargers (as well as hydrogen and natural gas stations) are built by 2020. The draft rules are part of an overall policy that aims to achieve a 60% cut in greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 2050.

The draft establishes minimum numbers of charging stations for each country (86,000 for giant Germany, 1,000 for little Latvia), and says that, while private industry should lead the development of this infrastructure, member states should provide tax and public procurement incentives.

Another section of the draft seems to defuse what some feared would be a senseless and costly war between DC fast charging standards:

For fast recharging, “Combo 2” connectors should be used, although for a transition period ending on 1 January 2019, fast recharging points may additionally be equipped with “CHAdeMO” connectors. Recharging points installed within three years of the directive’s entry into force could nonetheless remain in service.

Source: Green Car Congress