At RIVE 2013 (International Encounters of Ecological Cars) in Alès, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute Max Grünig presented on electric mobility costs and existing policy instruments in Europe, identifying challenges and opportunities for the industry. His presentation slides are available for download.
Max Grünig's presentation contained the following key results:
- The total costs for electric mobility vehicles currently still exceed the costs of comparable conventional vehicles.
- Falling production costs create lower consumer prices and cause an increase in demand - but without price cuts, paradoxically, there would be no increased demand. Who is financially responsible to force the development?
- EU CO2 reduction targets are too low to stimulate the further expansion of electric vehicles (EVs).
- "Super Credits" could facilitate increased demand, but in order to be effective, this measure requires more ambitious European CO2 objectives.
- Passenger vehicle growth markets include Brazil, China, and Russia.
- With a view to Europe:
Developing ambitious CO2 targets and stimulating the supply of "super credits;"
Offering risk capital for start-ups;
Increasing sales with purchase assistance programs, tax and other benefits, even through the European market is declining
Emerging markets often follow the European regulations and thus the electric car revolution
Taking advantage of urbanization and demographic changes in Europe, which signal enormous economic potential for EVs