European Union support

European Union and national government support for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles is essential to kick start their widespread adoption. The reason for this assistance that they directly contribute to objectives on the environment and defence.

The European Union must help generate customer demand. It needs to actively promote hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. Few people have heard of or understand hybrid technology. Fewer still are aware of the potential of plug-in hybrid cars. Most associate electric cars with milk floats and golf carts. The European Union must act to raise awareness. The European Union must also go further by giving greater incentives, partly to offset the initial cost premium. Until mass produced, hybrid, plug-in hybrids and electric cars will cost more than conventional cars. As a start, The European Union should provide incentives on new purchases and go further, perhaps providing direct financial help to the owners of older, more polluting cars to purchase hybrid models.

The European Union must also ensure that the infrastructure and regulations exist to support vehicle charging. This should include the provision of road side charging points along every street, like parking meters and street lights. As an extra incentive it could pay the cost of the off peak electricity - effectively giving plug-in car owners free "fuel".

The European Union must work with the car manufacturers to create a climate that encourages the production of plug-in hybrid and electric cars. Incentives ranging from capital grants, tax concessions and demand guarantees, along with regulatory easements and public sector vehicle purchasing policies would all help to spur manufacture.

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