“The transport system of the future must comply with the principles of coherence and sustainability, while the transport sector must gradually become climate-neutral by 2050. This is a complex challenge, which Lithuania took upon together with other European Union countries. I am confident that we have great potential and we must seek substantial and innovative solutions,” Vice-minister Skačkauskas said.
One of the significant changes ahead is a new daily travels and freight structure that would promote the use of diverse transport modes. The goal is to ensure that locally used urban and peri-urban means of public transport are eco-friendly and run on alternative fuel, and long-distance trips are made by electric or hydrogen buses or trains. In accordance with the Law on Alternative Fuels, all public passenger transport must shift to the use of alternative fuels by 2029.
In order to promote electromobility, significant improvements of the conditions for electric transport are planned to take place. Currently, there are 360 public and semi-public electric cars charging access points, and by the end of 2024 their number should increase to around 3960 and exceed 7000 by 2027. Subsidies are already provided for the acquisition of electric cars and it is planned to continue such funding in the future from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), Climate Change Programme, Sustainable Mobility Fund and other resources. It is planned that the number of electric cars in Lithuania is to increase from 0.4 to 20 percent and the number of charging points, including private ones, should reach 60 thousand by 2030.
With the view to promote alternative fuels, it is planned to develop a concept of hydrogen-run transport and infrastructure in Lithuania. The first hydrogen refilling station is to be built in 2025. At the EU level, hydrogen refilling stations should be built at TEN-T roads and at least one in each of the urban transport hubs by 2030.
By 2030, the car usage for daily trips is expected to reduce significantly, while alternative means of communication should become competitive and attractive for users.
Diverse means of transport are to be used for freight transport, i. e. the longest distance is to be covered by rail and inland water transport, while road transport is to be used only at the start and end strips of the route. A major part of the freight transport fleet is to use electricity or hydrogen.
For the purpose of implementing the above objectives, Lithuania plans to establish a Sustainable Mobility Fund. This fund should ensure uninterrupted, at least until 2030, funding for the acquisition of alternative fuel transport, the development of charging and refilling infrastructure and the implementation of other sustainable mobility measures in municipalities.
