30/06/2023

ERSE - the Energy Services Regulatory Authority - held another ConvERSE initiative on 28 June on the theme “Towards electrification: electric mobility operation and organisational models”, which brought together around 250 participants in a hybrid format (face-to-face and online).

The debate focused on the implementation of the European Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), recently adopted by the European Council and the European Parliament, which sets new targets for alternative fuel charging and refuelling infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport and tourism sectors.

Pedro Verdelho, Chairman of ERSE’s Board of Directors, described electric mobility as a “silent revolution” that is inevitable and already underway, and the importance of ERSE’s regulation of the sector to combat and reduce barriers to entry for operators.

“It is important to reduce barriers to entry, to reduce bureaucracy through regulation, so that change can be fully achieved”, he noted. He also stressed the importance of regulation providing predictability for those investing in electric mobility.

The Chair of LNEG, Teresa Ponce de Leao, highlighted the importance of the AFIR regulation in promoting electric mobility, stating that the European regulation stipulates that charging infrastructure must be public and affordable for all, and that a universal payment system must be in place, a model that the Portuguese government should reconsider.

The speakers of the two panels, moderated by ERSE’s Director of Energy Consumers, Pedro Costa, and ERSE’s Director of Tariffs, Pricing and Energy Efficiency, Isabel Apolinário, discussed the different visions they have for the electric mobility sector, especially as regards the current mobility model in Portugal.

Carlos Sampaio of Elergone commented that the current e-mobility model has many barriers and a high number of stakeholders, which makes the system not efficient enough. “We believe it is imperative to create a democratic ecosystem in electric mobility that promotes innovation, competitiveness, efficiency and is affordable for all stakeholders,” he said.

Andreia Carreiro of CleanWatts stressed the role of the electric vehicle as an agent of energy communities, as a production and storage device.

“We need a new regulatory framework that is innovative, flexible and modern” and to strengthen the link between the national electricity system and electric mobility.

Hugo Pinto of AMME - Associação dos Utilizadores e Promotores do Uso de Veículos Elétricos (Association of Users and Promoters of the Use of Electric Vehicles) - recalled Portugal’s pioneering role in promoting electric mobility and creating the conditions for its growth, and supported the end of the mandatory use of EGME as an operating partner by electric mobility players, the freedom of choice of energy origin and the redefinition of the rules of access to charging spaces.

For his part, Pedro Faria of UVE - Associação dos Utilizadores dos Veículos Elétricos (Association of Users of Electric Vehicles) - focused on the proposal to simplify the tariffs of the public charging network, such as the differentiation of costs according to the type of socket or charging power. Another aspect mentioned was charging for energy (per KWh) with an additional charge for time (minutes) after a certain period of use.

In the second panel, Luis Barroso highlighted the importance of MOBI.E as the manager of the electric mobility network, as well as its advisory role to the government in defining public policies in this area. He also emphasised the advantages of MOBI.E in enabling integration with the energy sector and interoperability of private charging networks, accessibility of information and ease of use as success factors of the electric mobility project in Portugal.

Carlos Ferraz, of APOCME - Associação Portuguesa de Operadores e Comercializadores de Mobilidade Elétrica  (the Portuguese Association of Electric Mobility Operators and Suppliers), stated that market players need to work together to promote the growth of the public charging network, and that operators’ networks outside the legal framework need to be monitored.

Daniela Simões, from the MIIO platform, emphasised that market trends should respond to consumer demands for simplification and avoidance of charging anxiety. She therefore argued that the electric mobility infrastructure needs to be expanded and that vehicles and the network need to be organised through intelligent charging.

António Amorim of E-Redes emphasised that collective consumption can play an important role in facilitating the integration of renewable generation in electric mobility and the importance of flexibility services through networks.

Ricardo Loureiro, member of ERSE’s Board of Directors, closed the session by stressing that electromobility will only become a reality when users of electric vehicles realise that the benefits are equal to those of combustion vehicles, declaring that there is still a lot of work to be done and that ERSE will have a relevant role to play, given its expertise in the sector.

For more information, see the presentations:

Keynote speaker

Novidades do Regulamento AFIR -Teresa Ponce Leão, LNEG

Panel I

Carlos Sampaio, Elergone

Igniting the energy transition where it matters most: locally - Andreia Carreiro, CleanWatts

Hugo Pinto, AMME

A Mobilidade Elétrica em Portugal - Pedro Faria, UVE

Panel II

A caminho da eletrificação - Luís Barroso, Mobi.E

Carlos Ferraz, APOCME

Daniela Simões, Plataforma MIIO

Mobilidade elétrica com autoconsumo associado- António Amorim, E-Redes

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