Initiative for electric cars: a joint pilot project by Daimler and RWE
Drawing an initiative under way in London, the automotive group Daimler AG and the energy group RWE AG announced Friday 5 September 2008 launch of a joint pilot project to promote electric cars in Berlin. At first, Daimler will put in place in the German capital more than 100 electric cars to its flagship brand Mercedes-Benz and Smart. The cars will be supplied with electricity via a network of 500 recharging stations installed by the German energy group RWE.
The project, called "e-mobility Berlin, is supported by the German government which must be adopted in November a national development plan to promote electric vehicles. Jochen Homann, Secretary of State, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi), noted that electric vehicles were a "considerable economic potential" and "could rapidly reduce the effects of climate Traffic. The project will also collect information on the acceptance of this new technology by consumers.
The partners are co-developing the interfaces between the vehicle and the intelligent charging points to enable effective, customer-friendly and convenient everyday operation. The payment system is based on an exchange of data between an in-car communication system and the charging point. The project is being supported by the German federal government.
In response to discussions on CO2 emissions and their effects on climate, the efforts of different industry players have recently intensified. The German manufacturers of batteries including working to improve the autonomy and the life of lithium-ion batteries. These efforts will include technical development to adapt the technology for its practical application, for example by making the loading faster.
Electric vehicles offer medium and long term potential for reducing dependence on oil. Electric power has the advantage of being generated from primary energy sources, including from renewable sources. Moreover, high efficiency electric motor allows efficient use of energy available. The program will begin testing at the start of next year and should come on line at the end of 2009. Daimler said it would choose some fleet and private customers for the program over the next several months.
"'E-mobility Berlin' will be an important part of the strategy of the government for electric mobility," German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee said after the announcement Friday.
"Our joint initiative is a good example of what can be achieved when policy makers, energy suppliers and the automotive industry all work together toward the same goal," said Dieter Zetsche, the chief executive of Stuttgart-based Daimler.
Zetsche added that he's convinced the future of mobility is green, and that "German industry has all the assets for assuming a leading role in this direction."
RWE is to set up 500 special charging sites (supply points) at owners' homes, workplaces and in car parks and shopping centers. Owners will be automatically billed for recharging, similar to the way they pay mobile phone bills.
Biggest in the world
The Berlin scheme is the second electric car test project initiated by Daimler, after electric Smart cars started a trial as fleet vehicles for the police and other services in London last year.
Dubbed “e-mobility Berlin” the scheme will be the largest of its kind in the world and is set to start by 2010, the two companies said in a statement.
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