Are charging points the key to reducing transport emissions?

Road transport-related electrification can displace emissions from passenger vehicles with internal combustion engines and plays a critical role in supporting the EU’s 2035 target to transition to zero-emission passenger cars.

While electric-vehicle (EV) adoption is accelerating, the availability of a reliable and well-distributed charging network remains a key bottleneck to large-scale transition.

Tackling tailpipe emissions

In December 2025, the European Commission presented the Automotive Package [4] to support the sector’s efforts in the transition to clean mobility. This revised the 2019 legislation for passenger cars, which introduced a zero-emission tailpipe target from 2035 onwards, to a 90% reduction target for tailpipe emissions by the same date.

Based on the projected 2025-2044 average EU electricity mix, lifecycle GHG emissions for EVs are estimated at 63g carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometre (CO2e/km). Lifecycle emissions from gas-powered vehicles (based on the average blend of fossil petrol and ethanol) are estimated at 235g CO2e/km. This results in an estimated life-cycle emissions saving for EVs in the European Union versus petrol-powered combustion engines of around 73% [5]. If the electricity used to power the EVs is 100% renewable, the estimated life-cycle emissions reduce to 52g CO2e/km, which is 78% lower than petrol-powered vehicles.

Charging point infrastructure

While the potential emissions savings are clear, one of the main barriers to adoption is the availability of a reliable network of charging points (CPs). Meeting the EU’s carbon reduction targets and consumer demand is likely to require 8.8 million public CPs by 2030 [6].

Historically, the ratio of EVs to CPs was relatively low, but it has increased significantly from 2018 as EV growth has outstripped CP development.

The case for private investment may stack up in some towns and cities and at existing service areas with high traffic flows, but in areas of lower demand, government support is required to deliver capital investment.

How can concession infrastructure help?

Concession infrastructure (long-term contracts between the public sector and private partners) can help provide the support required for CP growth. It allocates the deployment and operation to private partners with municipal or regional oversight. From an investor’s perspective, the model offers: 

Aberdeen Investments recently invested in a French CP platform for EVs, which is focused on the rollout of public-charging infrastructure in semi-urban and rural regions. The platform addresses a critical gap in the energy transition by enabling EV adoption beyond major cities. The charging infrastructure in these areas is currently underdeveloped, but it’s where future demand is expected to be strongest.

This focus reduces the geographical inequalities of accessing clean mobility. It also supports national climate objectives by accelerating EV uptake outside of dense urban centres. The platform’s charging infrastructure increases the availability of reliable, publicly accessible CPs. This is a prerequisite for large-scale behavioural change and for reducing transport emissions.

Managing grid capacity

However, other challenges also exist. According to a survey carried out by Driivz [7], the top concern for EV charging companies is grid capacity [8]. There’s a need for solutions that can balance grid capacity with demand. For example, there are incentives for consumers to minimise electricity use at peak times, such as using time-of-use power tariffs, smart charging, and vehicle-to-grid charging [9].

Final thoughts…

The switch to EVs has a significant role to play in reducing transport emissions. But it needs to be supported by an extensive public and private network of CPs, which will require government support in some areas.

Development of the charging network needs to go hand-in-hand with a robust grid strategy that can meet additional capacity requirements.

Substantial investment is required, and it will need to come in a number of forms. Concession infrastructure contracts can help governments meet both their development policies and sustainability goals.