Driving the electric car revolution  

The Climate Spectator has a look at the trend towards electric cars - Driving the electric revolution.

After some false starts, the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) is now seriously on the political agenda right around the world.

The fact that EV technology presents a ready, viable and clear way to reduce our emissions is providing even greater incentive to speed up their roll-out. ...

New legislation is being introduced across the globe to scale up the use of EVs. Major economies such as the US, EU and China are introducing policies, strategies and incentives to accelerate EV deployment.

The US House and Senate introduced bi-partisan legislation at the end of May this year which, if adopted, would electrify half of US cars and trucks by 2030. A combination of grants, rebates and other incentives would be provided for the widespread adoption of EVs in selected pilot areas, with the initial goal of deploying 700,000 vehicles over the next six years.

The House Bill (Electric Drive Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010) calls for the US Department of Energy to award $US250 million in grants for the pilot communities. Residents could qualify for rebates up to $US10,000 on a plug-in vehicle. On a national scale, the existing $US7,500 tax credit for EVs would be expanded to include larger vehicles such as commercial trucks.

The Senate Bill (the Electric Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010) also includes $US1.5 million for research to develop a battery that, on a single charge, would last up to 500 miles. Both versions of the bill also increase incentives for EV manufacturers and supporting infrastructure.

On May 25, EU ministers called for a European standard for EVs, to accelerate their deployment. Support was also given for the European Commission’s strategy for clean and energy-efficient vehicles.

The strategy published in April outlines specific action in support of electric cars. The Commission plans to stimulate investment in charging infrastructure and EV services build-up and will issue guidelines on incentives for EV consumer purchase. At the Council meeting, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain presented a joint declaration on electric mobility, seeking to speed up the process to create a "fully interoperable pan-European charging system". This would see plug-in systems standardised to ensure that EVs can be charged anywhere within the EU. ...

And it is not just the west that is moving on EVs. The Chinese government has recently unveiled a new subsidy program which aims to boost the adoption of EVs in the country. The pilot program will initially involve five cities: Shanghai, Changchun, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Hefei. Consumers of fully electric vehicles will be eligible for subsidies of up to ¥60,000 ($10,000), and subsidies of up to ¥50,000 ($8,500) will be available for buyers of plug-in hybrids.