http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/2350/

The German federal government hasadopted a National Development Plan for Electric Mobility which it says forms acrucial element of its ecological industrial policy.

With more than one billionvehicles on the roads worldwide – of which 700 million are passenger-carrying –and the figures set to double by 2030, the German government says that almostall industrialised and newly industrialising countries worldwide will be facedwith the challenge of having to reduce transport-induced CO2 andpollutant emissions and dependence on oil imports. It says: “As a result we mayexpect stringent caps on emissions in the most important automobile markets ofthe future – primarily in Asia – in the 10 to15 years to come or even access bans to inner city areas for vehicles withcombustion engines.”

The government says its supportof electric mobility will strengthen the competitiveness of the Germanautomobile industry, adding: “Electric mobility will come – be it only becauseof the framework conditions outlined above. The sooner we recognise this, themore added value will be generated in Germany… However, to fully exploitthe huge CO2 emissions reduction potential of electric vehicles, theelectricity required has to come from renewable energy sources. If renewablesources are not used, we will merely shift the emissions output from vehiclesto power plants.”

For further information:
www.bmu.de/english/mobility/electric_mobility/doc/44821.php
www.bmu.de/english/mobility/doc/44799.php