The European Engineering Industries Association has issued a position paper regarding electric vehicles, highlighting issues of concern and providing recommendations. The association advocates for mode 3 charging to become the norm and recommends that every new building be fitted with EV charging points.

The European Engineering Industries Association (Orgalime) sees the electric car as a promising area of technological development. In its position paper from 1 February 2010 it highlights a number of issues and potential hurdles to the successful roll-out of e-vehicles and calls for further cooperation among stakeholders and coordination with policymakers.

Safety of equipment and electrical installation in buildings of high importance

Orgalime believes it is imperative that all the manufacturers concerned and the public authorities take an uncompromising attitude towards safety. It will be essential to ensure that the proposed equipment solutions comply with all essential requirements of existing legislation, such as the Low Voltage directive.

With regards to safety of installations in buildings, Orgalime recommends considering the following:

• In the medium-term mode 3 charging should become normal charging mode: Although it is important to have a possibility of fast charge to reassure customers and to allow the take up of the electric car for instance for taxis, Orgalime thinks that 90% of charging globally should be done in slow charge in order to allow off-peak charging in which case electricity is also more likely to be low carbon (e.g. wind energy during night time). Orgalime believes that mode 3 charging as defined in IEC/EN 61851-1 should become the normal charging mode in the medium-term and be progressively imposed. A mode 3 outlet allows for either slow or fast charge, entails a direct connection of the electric vehicle to the AC supply network (mains) with a specific plug and features a control and protection function that is permanently installed in the infrastructure. A key issue for the promotion of the EVs will be providing adequate infrastructure for slow charge outside private homes as well.

• IP44 level must be imposed for electric vehicle charge installations: Orgalime believes that the requirement of IP44 level must be imposed for electric vehicle charge installations. IP44 means that the equipment is protected against the ingress of solid foreign objects ≥ 1,0 mm in diameter and against ingress of splashing water.

• Different connections at the two ends of the cord: In addition, for safety reasons, it is preferable that the plug on one side of the cord and the connector on the other side should be different in order to avoid dangerous connections.

Position on standardisation

At present, different standardisation committees within ISO and IEC are working on the electrification of cars at the international level. Orgalime believes that the first step is the completion of the ongoing work of international standardisation committees which is scheduled by the end of the first quarter of 2010. Regulators should not push for any specific solution for the plug and the socket-outlet until work is completed in IEC committees in order to guarantee the functionality and the level of safety needed for systems and devices. If in April 2010 it turns out that several technical solutions meet the necessary functional and safety requirements, then the EU should discuss with the engineering and automotive industries the possible harmonisation of the solution for this and for other areas.

Consider recycling of batteries and require new buildings to be fitted with charging points

Orgalime believes that the problems linked to the recycling of batteries could become an obstacle to the large scale introduction of e-vehicles on the markets in Europe. There is an urgent need to develop an environmental-friendly policy and methods to recycle batteries supplying driving power.

Finally, the association recommends the adoption of legislation requiring every new building to be fitted with charging points for EVs in order to ensure a rapid deployment of sufficient charging points.

About Orgalime

Orgalime, the European Engineering Industries Association, speaks for 33 trade federations representing some 130,000 companies in the mechanical, electrical, electronic, metalworking & metal articles industries of 22 European countries. The European Engineering Industry is the major supplier of equipment and systems to the automotive industry, the electric utilities industry and the housing and building infrastructures. The electrical and electronic industries represented by Orgalime are the essential link between the car industry on the one hand and the utilities/electricity providers on the other hand to enable a proper and safe development of e-mobility.