BDEW, VDA, and ZVEI on electric mobility:
Alliance of Politics and Business Is Needed
Joint position paper calls for comprehensive mobility concept
Berlin/Frankfurt am Main, July 14, 2009 - For the first time, three major automotive industry associations have issued an appeal for a coordinated approach to the introduction of electrical mobility. "Before there can be widespread introduction of electric-powered vehicles, we must have numerous political, regulatory, technical, and infrastructure prerequisites in place. This will require a concerted effort by government, industrial companies, and the energy sector." This is a key statement from a position paper released by the Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft (German Energy and Water Industry Association, BDEW), the Verband der Automobilindustrie (German Association of the Automotive Industry, VDA), and the Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie (German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association, ZVEI).
The associations are calling for a platform to be shared by representatives of the German federal government, the companies and trade associations of the automotive industry, the energy supply sector, the chemicals and electrotechnical industries, and battery manufacturers. Such a collaboration would help to strengthen Germany's industrial basis for this technology of the future, which is important worldwide.
Electric mobility, the associations explain, would contribute significantly to reducing CO2 emissions and therefore must be an undertaking involving shared responsibility by the participating industries, science, and the government. "For this purpose, power companies will generally offer tariffs for electricity solely from renewable sources of energy," the three associations maintain, adding that green electricity for mobility should not be subject to further tax burdens in the future.
If used in all future drive system concepts, electric mobility can make an important contribution to achieving sustainable mobility suited to the needs of tomorrow, according to the position paper. This will require a comprehensive mobility concept that gives the customer the freedom to choose an electricity supplier and to control the battery charging process.
The BDEW, VDA and ZVEI also say, however, that it is important to have realistic expectations of electric mobility: "Based on what we know today, internal combustion engines will still be ensuring our mobility during a long transitional period." The market penetration of electric-powered vehicles will be affected by cruising range, battery charging times, and battery costs. What's more, the required customer-focused infrastructure still needs to be put in place. From our present perspective, the associations explain, purely electric vehicles will primarily be used for short distances in the near future.
Taking a more long-term view, the paper suggests that widespread introduction of electric vehicles could offer the option of an appropriate means of energy storage, making it possible to efficiently integrate the often fluctuating supply of electricity from renewable sources into the existing power supply system.
The BDEW, VDA, and ZVEI call for a standardization of all components needed for electric driving. Comprehensive standards and norms also would have to be created to ensure that the vehicles can be easily connected to the power network in order to recharge the energy storage system. The goal, the associations report, must be to establish Europe-wide standards, and if, possible, worldwide ones.
They expect the German government to ensure a secure, long-term outlook for the further development of electric mobility. Until now, four German government ministries have been addressing this issue - the Ministry of Transport (BMVBS), Ministry for Environment (BMU), Ministry of Economics (BMWi), and Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). To move efforts forward, the associations are advocating the creation of a high-ranking post in the federal government with responsibility for electric mobility. The aim, they explain, is to help make Germany a world leader in the future market for electric mobility. The paper maintains that corresponding support for research focusing on electrical energy storage systems is needed if Germany is to become a center for innovation in this technology. This is an opportunity that must be taken advantage of, say the three associations in their appeal.
