2020 Vision - Germany: Lead Market for Electromobility
The German Federal Government has set an ambitious goal of one million electric cars on German roads by 2020 as part of its "National Electromobility Development Plan" drawn up by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi); the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS); the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU); and the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) in accordance with the Integrated Energy and Climate Programme (2007) of the German Government. The National Electromobility Development Plan includes more than EUR 500 million in incentives for the development of vehicles, energy storage devices and infrastructure. This figure has subsequently been increased by a further EUR 1 billion to the end of the current legislative period as part of the government's Electromobility program.
Two key areas of research support are (i) the battery as the heart of future electric vehicles, and (ii) the development of smart energy efficiency, safety and reliability systems for electric vehicles. In addition, research and development in the area of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies will benefit from a total of EUR 500 million funding within the framework of a national innovation program. Germany has set itself the ambitious target of achieving a 34 million ton reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020. Auto manufacturers based in Germany have been quick to respond to the challenge. According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), more than 260 passenger car models produced in Germany already meet or are below the set CO2 target level.
Major focal points of the development plan include increasing R&D funding and implementing market change strategies to facilitate the future implementation of electric vehicles. The essential technologies required for electric and hybrid drives, energy storage and grid infrastructure are already being developed. All German manufacturers will have an alternative drive vehicle on the market in 2011 and a fully electric vehicle by 2013.
