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European Union wants a much larger electric vehicle infrastructure

With fuel prices in Europe considerably higher than prices in the U.S., the European Union has big plans to help push drivers to electric vehicles and that plan includes adding a huge number of new electric vehicle charging stations.

The European Union wants to add half a million EV charging stations by 2020. If successful, the plan would make electric vehicle charging stations nearly as common as gas stations within the EU.

”We can finally stop the chicken and the egg discussion on whether infrastructure needs to be there before the large scale roll out of electric vehicles. With our proposed binding targets for charging points using a common plug, electric vehicles are set to hit the road in Europe,” said Action Connie Hedegaard, the European Commissioner for Climate.


Tesla Model S

Some of the most ambitious plans in the EU come from Germany, France, Spain, and Britain. Each of those nations has a goal of having more than 7 million electric vehicles on the roads by 2020.
 
However, the European Union has a long way to go to reach its goal. Electric vehicles aren't exactly rolling off dealer lots at a rapid pace. During 2011, German drivers purchased 1,858 electric vehicles, 1,796 were purchased in France, 1,547 found homes in Norway, and 1,170 were purchased in Britain. Those numbers make EVs only a small fraction of the vehicles on the roads today.
 
The huge number of EV charging stations is a significant part of the plan to get drivers into electric vehicles, but the charging stations are not the entire plan. The Clean Power for Transport Package is an €8 billion plan that also includes standard for developing hydrogen, biofuels, and other natural gas networks.

Source: NYT


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Since when is Norway part of the EU?
By BZDTemp on 1/30/2013 11:45:40 AM , Rating: 3
That's like saying Canada is part of the USA.

EU issue aside the EV sold per capita is interesting when comparing the sales figures since fx. there are roughly 16 times more people living in Germany than in Norway(81 million vs. 5 million). Simply out it shows that getting electric cars on the road can happen provided the right conditions and the EU move with charging stations could be a factor.

Cars like the Tesla S will help as well - from what I hear taxi companies here in Denmark are planing to try out the Tesla S (They usually run Mercedes E and S class cars).




RE: Since when is Norway part of the EU?
By Motoman on 1/30/2013 12:30:03 PM , Rating: 2
Well, Canada isn't actually "part" of the USA - but it is our hat. And therefore, kind of part of the overall ensemble.


RE: Since when is Norway part of the EU?
By BZDTemp on 1/30/2013 2:58:06 PM , Rating: 2
Exactly. Just like Norway is close the EU but not a member.


By ShieTar on 1/31/2013 4:39:48 AM , Rating: 2
Not that it matters the least bit, because every argument that can be made for all of the EU can be made for Norway and Switzerland just as well. Political, economical and social differences are rather minor.

I don't feel that is the case for Canada and the US. In a lot of ways, Canada seems to fall right between Europe and the US.


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