Following amendments in 2018, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) provided more than just a symbolic link between the European Union’s two most energy consuming sectors – transport and housing. The newfound requirements for “electromobility” meant the directive now acknowledged that the ease-of-usage and accessibility of infrastructure play major roles in promoting new, more sustainable modes of transportation.

However, for the purposes of the directive, this ambitious goal was mainly limited to prescribing minimum standards on electric car-charging infrastructure in newly constructed and renovated buildings.

In addition to being grossly underrepresented, cycling and broader active mobility measures were further weakened by the non-mandatory language which accompanies them in the provisions. While electric cars received precise qualitative and quantitative instructions for their installment (flanked by mandatory language), cycling, soft mobility, green and holistic urban planning have all been left to the “consideration” of individual member states.

Non-binding language such as this simply does not work.

To demonstrate this, the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) has compiled a factsheet based on broad research into member states’ submitted transpositions of Directive (EU) 2018/84 into their respective national legislations. The findings included in the factsheet indicate that this notable difference in the language of the provisions and an explicit lack of mandate with regards to cycling and active mobility resulted in quite disappointing outcomes.

Only three member states opted for a literal transposition of Article 8.8 which refers to “soft and green mobility”. Another eight member states submitted documentation that could be broadly classified as falling under the provisions of Article 8.8., some of which had these documents in place prior to Directive (EU) 2018/844. E-bike charging infrastructure is mentioned in as few as three transpositions.

This is in stark contrast to the transposition of articles 8.2 – 8.6 on electric car-charging infrastructure, which saw a near unison implementation, with member states often going beyond the prescribed minimums.

The message ahead of the upcoming EPBD revision in December 2021 is clear. For truly energy-efficient buildings we will need adequate bicycle parking and e-bike charging infrastructure. To do this, the legislators need not look further than the very same document. Strong and mandatory language that enabled quality transposition of electric car-charging infrastructure provisions into national legislation, as suggested by ECF’s research, could be a good model to follow.

Download the factsheet here.

Download ECF's position paper here.