Publication date: 21 March 2011

Consumers will not automatically make the switch to electric vehicles if running costs are high, a recharging station network is not in place, or if new technologies are not user-friendly, according to a new policy paper by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) European Bureau.

Commenting on the paper, Werner Kraus, President of FIA Region I, said: “Up to now, all efforts to make electric vehicles a common sight on our roads have been to no avail, however, with a range of new hybrid and fully electric products due to enter the market in the coming months, it looks like we may finally be on the verge of an ‘eMobility’ revolution for the car industry. Electric vehicles have great potential to improve individual mobility as well as lower CO2 emissions”.

He added, “There will be many challenges ahead. Consumers wi! ll not shift to electric vehicles if costs are high, the right infrastructure is not in place, or if they do not understand the new technologies on offer. A range of actors including car manufacturers, battery producers, energy suppliers and distributors, and of course politicians, will have to work together to ensure that the transition to electric vehicles is a successful one.”

The policy document, ‘Towards E-Mobility: The Challenges Ahead’, is being released in advance of the anticipated release of a new European Commission White Paper on Transport as well as the entry of several new electric vehicles into the market in the coming months. The role of institutions - European, national and local - is crucial to create a clear vision and a more integrated framework, according to the paper. This should include:

    * Leading by example with green procurement procedures;
    * Introducing the correct package of incentives to stimulate specific uses of vehicles;
    * Working close to business and academia to refine vehicles and battery technology and support a higher volume of production;
    * Integrating transport policy with urban planning, energy supply and public services;
    * Encouraging measures for green consumption (for example by promoting labelling systems  and developing innovative financial mechanisms);
    * Fostering a better integration of electric vehicles into the existing urban transport infrastructure.

By pooling the experiences of its 71 member clubs, representing 35 million motoring consumers from across Europe, this FIA European Bureau paper gives a unique cross-border perspective on the critical factors on eMobility currently under debate, both for users and consumers.

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