The Ministers of Industry took the first steps in San Sebastián today to make the electric vehicle a reality in Europe and agreed that European institutions, with the EC at the head, should lead a common strategy on electric vehicles.

The Spanish Minister of Industry, Miguel Sebastián, stated in the press conference following the informal meeting of Ministers for Competitiveness that all the member countries emphasise that the electric vehicle is a great opportunity for industry, technology, the environment and energy, which makes the initiative a symbol of what Europe requires.

Sebastián said that dialogue between governments and institutions, and among the sectors involved, such as automobile, energy, technology and infrastructure, not to mention the general public, is necessary and indispensable.

“We want to do things right from the beginning, said Sebastián, who warned that following a common strategy does not cost money, but not following one does, since it will be expensive for industry to change its platforms and adapt its models to common parameters.

The Spanish Minister was very satisfied with the open discussion on the electric vehicle and the agreement of all of the countries that the EC should draft a European strategy to avoid some of the obstacles which implementation of this car may come up against.

Among them, the variety of recharge systems in the present 92 models on the market, the decrease in the cost of batteries, which now cost from 6,000 to 16,000 Euros, and standardisation of incentives.

In this sense, the EC Director General of Industry and Enterprise, Heinz Zourek, underlined that the Commission is already preparing instructions for electric vehicle standardisation which will be compulsory for the industry.

Standardisation includes not only encouraging the manufacture of essential components such as batteries or the implementation of a Euroconnector that would allow any user to recharge his vehicle's battery in any country of the European Union, but also measures providing incentives for purchase decided by agreement among the member countries

Among measures designed to stimulate the industry, Sebastián and Zourek mentioned some proposals made by the countries in the work sessions, such as special lanes, better parking conditions or exemption from licensing taxes.