At an event held yesterday in Brussels, a group of 50 representatives of European electric utilities handed over to the European Commissioner for Transport a Declaration on the standardisation of EV charging infrastructure and exhibited several EV models. Early action on standardisation will allow Europe to become a front runner in mass deployment of EVs. (+ photo gallery).

Representatives of European electricity companies, power distribution system operators, the European Commission as well as car manufacturing companies gathered yesterday in Brussels to discuss how to pave the way for rapid deployment of plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles. At the event, organised by the sector association that represents the common interests of the electricity industry at pan-European level EURELECTRIC, several plug-in models were brought in from different European countries (Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands) where they are actually in operation.

A pledge to develop harmonised charging standards for EVs

At the event, a group of 50 representatives of European electricity companies and power distribution system operators handed over to the European Commission Vice-President responsible for Transport, Antonio Tajani, a Declaration on the standardisation of EV charging infrastructure and called upon all transport and energy stakeholders to support the drive to achieve a standard for electric vehicle charging systems.

The declaration recommends the following actions:

• Application of the identified pre-standards until the development of the official standards is completed by ISO/IEC
• Pilot projects for electric vehicles to analyse the impact on existing network architecture and the conditions for the development of a competitive market; future requirements for active demand management and storage possibilities need to be scrutinised in the light of the growing grid integration of renewable energies and challenges in balancing the power supply
• Continuous and credible contributions to the research and development of emerging electric drive and battery technologies
• Cooperation among the various stakeholders to ensure a clear, stable regulatory framework conducive to investments, in order to attain mass market deployment of electric vehicles
• Creation of appropriate incentives to overcome market hurdles and initial commercialisation hurdles for this technology; given the uncertainty of the oil price, the right fiscal and tax policies are needed to address the substantial first-cost hurdles facing the consumer
• Deployment and availability of infrastructure to serve consumers with different usage needs - eg different charging options - plus proper integration into the retail electricity market
• Full recognition of the role of electric vehicles in the forthcoming European Commission White Paper on a Sustainable Transport Future

“I applaud the initiative that the European electricity industry has taken and its commitment to drive forward the standardisation of infrastructure for charging up electric vehicles, a move which has the potential to significantly contribute to more environmentally sustainable transport in Europe. This will also help to put the EU at the forefront of transport technologies,” said European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Transport, as he welcomed the Declaration.

Towards a carbon neutral power sector

To assure that the deployment of Electric Vehicles, as well as other electric applications replacing oil & gas applications such as heat pumps, offer true carbon benefits, a declaration was signed in March 2009 by the Chief Executives of power companies representing over 70% of total electricity production in the EU making a public commitment to strive for a carbon-neutral power sector by 2050.

Electric Car and charging post exhibition

Several European electric utilities exhibited plug-in vehicles along with their charging posts, including:

• ALLIANDER (the Netherlands)- Th!nk city
• CEZ (Czech Republic)‐ Fiat
• EDF (France)‐ Toyota
• ENEL (Italy)‐ Piaggio
• ENEXIS (the Netherlands)- Volkswagen
• E.ON AG (Germany)- Mini
• ESB (Ireland)– Smith Edison and Peugot
• ESSENT (the Netherlands) ‐ Electric Lotus Elite
• FORTUM (Finland)- Think city
• RWE (Germany)‐ Tesla
• VATTENFALL (Sweden)‐ Volvo