Germany setting sights on one million electric cars by 2020?
MINI E - click above for high-res image gallery
According to a report from the Associated Press (via Drive.com.au), Germany is about to get serious about electric cars. How serious? Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet is currently drafting a plan that would aim to put a million electric cars on German roadways by 2020.
To meet that lofty goal, a series of financial incentives are reportedly on the table that would start in 2012. It's not clear as of yet what these stimulus packages would include, but specifics are to be announced in the fall. We'd expect manufacturers, suppliers and consumers would all get some sort of incentive thrown their way to build or purchase EVs.
It's no secret that German automakers like Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW have lagged well behind Asian and American automakers in electric and hybrid vehicle production, largely focusing instead on diesel technology. BMW's first MINI-based EVs are currently undergoing large-scale testing and Daimler recently teamed up with Tesla Motors in America to advance its EV presence.
Gallery: MINI E
[Source: Drive.com.au]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
evtestdk 8:33PM (8/19/2009)
Very good that Angela is pushing, now I hope that the German auto makers will wake up and begin to produce some EV´s.
Martin – www.evtest.dk
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RAN 10:22PM (8/19/2009)
Since none of the German automakers have much desire to build EVs, I wonder from where Germany will import them?
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matte 11:33AM (8/20/2009)
*cough cough*
Daimler Smart Ed?
BMW Mini?
Chris M 8:37PM (8/20/2009)
That could explain the delay until 2012, it gives the German auto companies time to get their act together on EVs and plug-in hybrids. Of course, it is also perfect timing for Mitsubishi, Nissan, and the Tesla Model S.
Hmm, will the Opel Ampera be eligible?
hans_solo 9:40PM (8/20/2009)
*cough* *cough*
To import carts?
Well behind?
Lets see, what the others have done greatly:
- Tesla, a 100k+ actors EV, with a 5 to 7+ year lifetime battery
- I-MiEV (toyish like the Smart ed)
- LEAF (pretty nice work)
and a handful others with some 100+X mile range...
Yeah pwnaged, great stuff out there, we are shocked and awed.
I welcome the government decision, because any overall progress in e-mobility is imho useful in a global perspective. No matter who is pushing EVs.
Serge 2:37PM (8/20/2009)
You don't see statements like that very often "it's no secret that German automakers like Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW have lagged well behind Asian and American automakers".
wake up und smell the coffee ;)
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Mark Kiernan 3:26PM (8/20/2009)
German automakers have invested heavily in diesel so they are dragging their feet as much as possible. The big problem is that diesel comes from oil so when oil prices jump again the automakers who continue to support oil will be left with stock they can sell while people selling EVs or range extenders will benefit. I thought they would have been smarter than this.
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evlover 12:43PM (8/31/2009)
Regardless of what analysts are saying now, electric cars are a really powerful tool for bolstering a national economy, and creating a nation infrastructure which is independent, strong, efficient, and sustainable. I wish we saw bigger pushes for electric cars in the United States instead of programs like 'cash for clunkers'. To learn more about the advantages of electric cars, and the way they could bring us out of a recession while saving the economy, check out the book "Two Cents Per Mile" by Nevres Cefo. You can learn more about it at http://www.twocentspermile.com or read excerpts and reviews of it at http://bit.ly/2centspermile
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