Last week, the 27 EU ministers of competitiveness discussed the possibility of a Europe-wide plan for the development of electric cars. The two associations representing the EV business in Europe, Going-Electric and AVERE, issued a joint press release welcoming this initiative and offering some points of reflection to be considered in the formulation of the strategy.

The ministers' informal council meeting in San Sebastian (Spain) last week dedicated to e-mobility concluded on the decision to pro-actively overcome barriers and encourage industry by formulating a European strategy for electric vehicles underlining the importance of standardisation of technical aspects and conformity in financial as well as non-financial incentives across Europe.

Discussion paper on a future EV strategy

The after the meeting presented discussion paper identifies following areas of action:

• Vehicle and component production
• Charging infrastructure and electrical power system 
• Markets and consumer uptake
• Industrial structure, business development and enterprise models
• Global competition and competitiveness
• Safety, placing on the market, standardisation and legal certainty Energy and environmental dimension

(A comprehensive summary can be found on Going-Electric's website.)

The EV community's reaction

AVERE, the European Association for Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, and Going-Electric, the European Association for Battery Electric Vehicles, are very favourable to the prospect of a European-wide plan for electric vehicles but offer in their press release some additional points to be taken into account in formulation the strategy:

• while several EV technologies exist, both associations clearly favour Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) which are particularly handy for urban traffic and Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) which have an engine motor taking over when the batteries empty on longer trips but are still less pollutant than fuel cars; 
• a new EU category of vehicle homologation should be created for very small electric cars tailored to urban traffic use patterns; 
• charging facilities have to first be provided close to where people live, only in a second step will fast charging stations on road networks be necessary;
   

 The European strategy for electric vehicles could be adopted during the Competitiveness Council in spring this year.  

About the associations:

AVERE, the European Association for Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, is a non-profit association, founded in 1978, comprised of members including Users, Associations, Public Bodies, Research & Development, Vehicle and Equipment Manufacturers, and Electricity Utilities. The mission of AVERE is to promote the use of Electric Vehicles and to rationalize the efforts of its members in scientific and technological development.  

Going-Electric, the European Association for Battery Electric Vehicles (AISBL), is a Brussels-based international non-profit association of businesses, associations, NGOs and individuals, promoting Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Europe as the most sustainable motorised road vehicles. The mission of Going-Electric is to be the voice of all EV stakeholders towards a European legislative framework enabling a European leadership in EV production and commercialisation.