ALTERNATIVE FUELS ORDER

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 460.32

ALTERNATIVE FUELS ORDER

26th December, 2017

LEGAL NOTICE 413 of 2017, as amended by Act XVII of 2024.

(1)

The title of this order is Alternative Fuels Order.

(2)

This order partially transposes Directive 2014/94/EU of

the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the

deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.

Technical specifications

1. Normal power recharging points for motor vehicles

(1)

An alternating current normal power recharging point for

electric vehicles shall be equipped for interoperability

purposes with at least socket outlets or vehicle

connectors of Type 2 as described in standard EN 62196-

2 * .

(2)

While maintaining the Type2 compatibility, those socket

outlets may be equipped with features such as

mechanical shutters.

2. High power recharging points for motor vehicles

(1)

An alternating current high-power recharging point for

electric vehicles shall be equipped for interoperability

purposes with at least connectors for Type 2 as described

in standard EN62196-2.

(2)

A direct current high-power recharging point for electric

vehicles shall be equipped for interoperability purposes

with at least connectors of the combined charging system

‘Combo 2’ as described in standard EN 62196-3 † .

3. Technical specification for refuelling points supplying

hydrogen for motor vehicles

Connectors for motor vehicles for the refuelling of gaseous

hydrogen shall comply with the ISO 17268 ‡ gaseous hydrogen

motor vehicle refuelling connection devices standard.

* Plugs, socket-outlets vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets.

Conductive charging of electric vehicles Dimensional

compatibility and interchangeability requirements for a.c. pin and

contact-tube accessories SM EN 621962: 2017.

† Plugs, socket-outlets vehicle connectors and vehicle inlets.

Conductive charging of electric vehicles Dimensional

compatibility and interchangeability requirements for d.c.and a c/

dc pin and contact-tube vehicle couplers’ SM EN 62196-3-2014.

‡ Gaseous hydrogen land vehicle refuelling connection devices SM

EN ISO 17268:2016.

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4. Shore-side electricity supply installations for seagoing

ships

Shore-side electricity supply installations for seagoing ships,

including the design, installation and testing of the systems,

shall comply with the technical specifications of the IEC/ISO/

IEEE 80005-1 standard * .

5. Technical specifications for intelligent metering systems

(1)

The infrastructure operator shall ensure that the

intelligent metering system

(a)

displays to the person using the recharging point

the time of its use;

(b)

is secure with regard to data sent from and to it.

(2)

The infrastructure operator shall ensure that information

on the performance of the intelligent metering system is

made available to the person at the point of recharging.

* Utility connection in port. High Voltage Shore Connection

(HVSC) Systems General requirements ISO/IEC/IEEE 80005-

1:2012.

(1)

In this order, unless the context otherwise

requires:-

the "Act" shall mean the European Union Act;

"alternative fuel" means fuel or power sources which serve, at

least partly, as a substitute for fossil oil sources in the energy supply to

transport and which have the potential to contribute to its

decarbonisation and enhance the environment performance of the

transport sector, and includes

(a)

electricity;

(b)

hydrogen;

(c)

liquid or gaseous biofuels derived from biomass;

(d)

synthetic and paraffinic fuels;

(e)

natural gas, including biomethane in gaseous form

(compressed natural gas-CNG) and liquefied form (liquefied

natural gas -LNG); and

(f)

liquefied petroleum gas;

"electric vehicle" means a motor vehicle equipped with a

powertrain containing at least one non-peripheral electric machine as

energy convertor with an electric rechargeable energy storage system,

which can be recharged externally;

"high power recharging point" means a recharging point that

allows for a transfer of electricity to an electric vehicle with a power of

more than 22kW;

"infrastructure operator" means the person responsible for

operating a recharging point or refuelling point whether as owner or on

behalf of a third party;

"intelligent metering system" means an electronic system that

can measure energy consumption, providing more information than a

conventional meter and can transmit and receive data using a form of

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electronic communication;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for transport;

"normal power recharging point" means a recharging point

accessible to the public which allows for the transfer of electricity to

an electric vehicle with a power less than, or equal to, 22kW,

excluding devices

(a)

with a power less than or equal to 3.7kW; or

(b)

the primary purpose of which is not recharging

vehicles;

"recharging point" means an interface accessible to the public

and is capable of charging one electric vehicle at a time, or exchanging

a battery of one electric vehicle at a time;

"refuelling point" means a refuelling facility accessible to the

public for the provision of any alternative fuel, excluding LNG,

through a fixed or mobile installation;

"renewed" in respect of a recharging point, refuelling point or

shore-side electricity supply installation means the restoration or

upgrade of the item’s operation capacity, excluding

(a)

work to replace or repair a single internal

component or part as a result of wear and tear or the end of its

operational life; or

(b)

work to carry out repairs to the external structure

(including connector sockets) without replacing that structure;

"shore-side electricity supply installation" means the provision

of shore-side electrical power through a standardised interface to

seagoing ships at berth falling within the scope of the technical

specification in item 4 of the Schedule.

(2)

A recharging or refuelling point shall be accessible to the

public only if it is

(a)

intended for use by members of the general public

(including those situated in public car parks, whether or not

those car parks are available only to consumers of specific

goods or services); and

(b)

not intended for

(i)

exclusive use in respect of a vehicle

produced by a specific manufacturer;

(ii)

use by persons engaged in specific

occupations;

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(iii) use by persons whilst at their place of

employment (including visitors); or

(iv) exclusive use by occupiers of, or visitors

to, residential premises.

(1)

Subject to sub-article (4), in the case where, any

of the infrastructure, referred to in sub-article (2), is deployed or

renewed as from the 17th November, 2017, the infrastructure operator

shall ensure that such infrastructure complies with the technical

specifications set out in the relevant item of the Schedule as specified

in sub-article (3).

(2)

The infrastructure referred to in sub-article (1) shall be

(a)

a normal power recharging point;

(b)

a high power recharging point; and

(c)

a refuelling point supplying hydrogen.

(3)

The relevant items of the Schedule are

(a)

for a normal power recharging point, item 1;

(b)

for a high power recharging point, item 2; and

(c)

for a refuelling point supplying hydrogen, item 3.

(4) The requirements referred to in sub-articles (3)(a) and

(3)(b), with regards to the infrastructure referred to in sub-articles

(2)(a) and (2)(b), shall not apply to wireless or inductive units.

(5)

The technical specifications laid down in items 1 and 2

of the Schedule shall be the required minimum standards.

A marine terminal or facility operator which operates a

shore-side electricity supply installation for seagoing ships which is

deployed or renewed after 17th November, 2017 shall ensure that the

installation complies with the requirements set out in item 4 of the

Schedule.

(1)

An infrastructure operator shall ensure, as from

the 17th November 2017, that all recharging points, for which he is

responsible, incorporate intelligent metering systems which comply

with the requirements specified in item 5 of the Schedule.

(2)

Operators of recharging points shall be allowed to

provide electric vehicle recharging services to customers on a

contractual basis, including in the name and on behalf of other service

providers.

(3)

The prices charged by the operators of recharging points

accessible to the public shall be reasonable, easily and clearly

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comparable, transparent and non-discriminatory.

(1)

The infrastructure operator shall, without

prejudice to the provisions of the Regulator for Energy and Water

Services Act, the Environment Protection Act, the Authority for

Transport in Malta Act and the Merchant Shipping Act, and any

regulations made thereunder, provide and make available to the person

at the point of recharging, clear and consistent information related to

all motor vehicles which may

(a)

be regularly fuelled with individual fuels placed

on the market; or

(b)

recharged by recharging points.

(2)

Such information as referred to in sub-article (1) shall be

made available

(a)

in relevant motor vehicle manuals;

(b)

at refuelling and recharging points;

(c)

on motor vehicles; and

(d)

in motor vehicle dealerships.

(3)

This article shall apply to all motor vehicles, and their

motor vehicle manuals, placed on the market after the 18th November,

2016.

The Minister shall from time to time carry out a review

of this order and publish a report setting out the conclusions thereof;

such reports shall be published

(a)

before the 9th October, 2022; and

(b)

at intervals not exceeding five (5) years.

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