Reports

This policy note is based on an analytical study carried out for Transport & Environment (T&E) and the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) in the context of the upcoming review of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). The objective of the study is to assess how AFIR can better ensure a transparent, predictable and user-friendly charging experience across Europe. The analysis focuses specifically on price transparency, comparability of charging options, and the visibility of all price components before and after a charging session in order to avoid eventual excessive prices.

Based on the selection of 600 popular and widely available secondhand PHEVs (100 per country) retrieved from major resale websites, this report presents the choice of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) offered to consumers on the second-hand market, in six European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Belgium, and Slovenia. By focusing on countries with strong second-hand car markets, but different tax policies on PHEVs, car segments and average fleet mileage, BEUC identifies the most common PHEV models that enter the used car market and the price trends in different countries.
The full report referenced in this summary can be found here.

Consumers currently face a shortage of affordable vehicle options on the market and are compelled to purchase second-hand.

The CLEAR-HP project helped to accompany consumers across Europe throughout the whole purchasing journey of switching from a fossil fuel boiler to a heat pump.

The project aimed to raise consumer awareness, build confidence in heat pump technology, and ultimately enhance both the energy efficiency and comfort of people’s homes.

At its core, national consumer organisations in seven European countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Portugal) organised collective purchase campaigns for independently-tested heat pumps.

Participants benefited from advantageous purchase and installation packages that included consumer support and workshops throughout the process.

As the project comes to an end, this report takes an in-depth look at what the partners managed to achieve and proposes some key takeaways for policymakers.