Elected

Ceo Fastned becomes mouthpiece European charging sector

Michiel Langezaal.
Michiel Langezaal.

Michiel Langezaal, co-founder and CEO of European fast-charging company Fastned, has been elected the new president of ChargeUp Europe: the European trade association for electric vehicle charging. In this capacity, he will become the mouthpiece of the charging industry.

Langezaal was elected at the association’s annual general meeting on 25 February in Brussels. ChargeUp Europe is committed to accelerating the transition to emission-free mobility and ensuring that EV drivers can benefit from the best charging experience, with access to high-quality and readily available charging infrastructure across Europe. As chairman, Langezaal will advocate for growth of the European charging industry, which is already a global leader, increased European competitiveness and green job creation.

Indeed, the EV industry is at a crucial stage, with some carmakers trying to scale back their ambitions, threatening the long-term competitiveness of the European car industry and building a successful charging sector. “Looking to the future, it is clear that batteries are getting cheaper and cheaper, and by 2030 EVs will be cheaper than fossil fuel cars,” Langezaal says. “It is the roadmap towards that that is crucial for the sector to continue investing and scaling up. Only stable and progressive policies will enable both car manufacturers and the charging industry to plan ahead and create a healthy business and together deliver on climate ambitions, as well as green jobs for the future and green growth.”

“In the short term, it will be crucial to engage in discussions with the EU on the CO₂ CAFE standards and find solutions to support car manufacturers and the charging industry,” he continued. “For a successful transition, it is essential that all stakeholders are supported on the road to electrification, including those who face challenges along the way.”

Low-carbon economy

“I am honoured to have been chosen by our industry, with companies ranging from CPOs, utilities, hardware manufacturers, mobility service providers, to oil majors transitioning to a low-carbon economy,” said the new president. “As president, I will represent them and work for the next phase of growth.”

And he concludes, “the charging industry is a key stakeholder in decarbonising European transport. The success of the European automotive sector is inextricably linked to the development of a robust and future-proof charging infrastructure. As such, our sector plays a crucial role in ensuring Europe’s long-term competitiveness. It is my ambition to involve ChargeUp Europe more than ever in discussions in Brussels and other European capitals to promote policies that support a thriving and competitive e-mobility ecosystem.”

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This article was automatically translated from the Dutch language original to English.

Author: Matthieu Van Steenkiste

Source: MobilityEnergy.com

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