French government proposes purchase of 100,000 EVs

The following heads-up in this morning from Nicolas le Douarec of Mobizen fame. (Incidentally, the quality of the English machine translation from Google is, while of course not perfect, to my mind nothing less than remarkable. Seems we are making progress on all this too.)

This just might, just might turn into an important program, bearing in mind that at this point it is just a plan for a plan. But let’s stay on top of this one. You never know. Discussions and additional information on this project invited in the New Mobility Café. Post address: NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com

Eric Britton

Google machine translation:

Purchase Agreement On A Group Of 100 000 Electric Vehicles

February 18

On 17 February the Secretary of State for Industry and Luc Chatel, Secretary of State for Ecology Chantal Jouanno announced a letter of intent had been signed by the State and several public and private ( La Poste, EDF, Vinci, Veolia, France Telecom, GDF Suez) for a purchase of 100 000 electric vehicles over five years. Precise specifications defining the needs of business must be prepared to launch the first calls for tender in the fall. "We will be able to put our findings in June, with a common specification sent to those who want to embark on industrialization," said La Poste chairman Jean-Claude Bailly, whose company has already announced she was ready to acquire 10 000 electric vehicles by 2012.

The second part of the government's plan focuses on how consumers can recharge their cars and do maintenance. Mr. and Ms. Chatel Jouanno announced the establishment of a working group to develop a national strategy of developing the infrastructure needed to recharge the development of electric vehicles and hybrid rechargeable. This group brings together a wide range of stakeholders, consisting of manufacturers of automobiles, utilities, local authorities, building professionals and managers of public spaces. Its mission is to find ways to democratize these vehicles with a new kind. The main lines are already known through the "decarbonation vehicles", which is primarily to help local communities provide the infrastructure needed to recharge the vehicle, and to stimulate demand in order to provide opportunities commercial manufacturers. They must quickly get aid quickly to launch sufficient production.

The third component of the plan focuses on research and development. "The goal is to use the industrial development of clean vehicles," said Chatel. "We hope in particular that there is a French production of batteries for electric vehicles," he added. A budget of 90 million euros will be devoted to funding the work of these "platforms". In parallel, 50% of the 400 million euro Predit (research program in land transport) will be dedicated to research on solutions "low carbon," said Jouanno. Finally, to support future developments, the fund demonstrator Ademe, with 80 million, will contribute to the financing of experiments and prototypes of vehicles decarbonation (8 projects have already been selected).

To encourage the purchase of electric vehicles for individuals, the government is counting on the bonus of 5 000 euros granted to purchasers of a light vehicle emitting less than 60 grams of CO2 per km. This could be "reviewed" when the threshold of 100 000 electric vehicles has been achieved.

Society for electric vehicles (EVS), the signal given by the state is important. The Company shall enter into effect in the pre-industrialization of the energy system (based on lithium-ion batteries and computers). Fruit of a partnership between Dassault and Heuliez, several generations of Cleanova - 40 vehicles developed on the basis of Renault - have been tested in fleets of EDF, La Poste and Veolia. The EVS is now ready to provide any manufacturer who would respond to the call for orders. The company is also in discussions with partners to launch the industrialization of its energy systems for electric vehicles.

Manufacturers are also at market. The Bolloré Group will present March 4 at the Geneva Motor Show a car developed and manufactured in partnership with Pininfarina. The BlueCar is to be marketed late 2009 or early 2010. It has been two years since Bolloré model to test the four-seater, with a battery lithium metal polymer. In this regard, the Bolivian President Evo Morales led a Vaucresson BlueCar yesterday as part of his visit to France. Bolloré is negotiating for several months a cooperation agreement with Bolivia to operate, with the mining group Eramet, the reserves of lithium which abounds the salar of Uyuni (see press releases of 26 / 8 and 8 / 10 / 08). The French group wants to secure term supplies lithium, but Bolivia has one-third of the world's proven lithium (8 million tons). An offer was made last December, but President Morales is an exemplary partnership, making the beautiful respect for the environment, local job creation, as well as cooperation with companies that exploit resources and natural communities. Bolloré will refine the draft to submit a new offer in March. (ECHOS, TRIBUNE, FIGARO, parisien, AUTOACTU.COM 18/2/09)

Print this article