The CARS 21 High Level Group was set up by the European Commission last November to develop a common action plan and a vision for “a competitive EU automotive industry and sustainable mobility and growth in 2020 and beyond.”

The focus of the group will be to advise the Commission in the development of an effective European industrial policy for the automotive sector and in the implementation of the EU’s strategy for clean and energy efficient vehicles. Notably, CARS 21 will develop policy recommendations in questions related to the competitiveness and sustainable growth of the automotive industry, and proposals to further the development and take up of clean and energy efficient vehicles in Europe and beyond. The group consists of representatives of the automotive industry, trade unions, non-governmental organisations, users, EU Member States, the Commission and other EU institutions (see list of members in the annex). The EHA has been invited to participate in the working groups that are preparing recommendations for the final report schedueld for this Spring.

The EHA explained in its presentation to the Working group on Innovation, infrastructure, energy supply and use,  the need to start integrating hydrogen requirements in current transport and energy infrastructure planning. Incentives will be needed to leverage initial high investments of first movers. The EHA also stressed that battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicles both depend on smart and efficient energy systems. The EHA therefore welcomed the intention of  Commissioner Kallas to link transport infrastructure with energy infrastructure development in the Strategic Energy Technology Plan  as indicated in the White Paper on Transport. Hydrogen as an energy carrier has links to many energy technologies developed under the SET Plan which provides exciting opportunities for a sustainable European roll out of hydrogen infrastructure. A Cars 21 hearing is planned for May 13.

More information on the work of the Cars 21 can be found here.