With the latest news on April 24 of VW investing in 15 bln in BEV in China by 2022 in a new joint venture with Chinese firm Anhui Jianghuai Automobile (JAC) to launch a new car brand, SOL, which will offer an electric SUV with a range of “more than 300 kilometres” the IEA pointed to the 343,500 electric buses and  over 600,000 new electric passenger vehicles which were sold in China in 2017, up 71% compared to 2016, whereas Europe only accounted for 1,273 vehicles. By the end of last year, China was home to 440,000 public and private EV charging stations, ranking No 1 in the world.  At the Transport Decarbonisation and Clean Mobility session on April 26 in Ljubljana Nicolas Schottey, Program Director New Business Energy, EV and charging infrastructure, Nissan / Renault Alliance made clear that the 10 mln EV ambition of EV 10% in 2030 will be in China. With cars sales up worldwide (2017 68 mln of which 15 mln in Europe and 24 mln in  China).

Meanwhile in Brussels Claude Turmes, the rapporteur in  EU Parliament of the review of the Clean Vehicles Directive in a comment on april 25  therefor “that electric mobility has to be privileged in European legislation, notably in the Clean Vehicles Directive, as it is not only reducing CO2 emissions, but also contributing to the fight against air and noise pollution. Investing public money in other so-called ‘clean’ vehicles (i.e. gas or biofuels) would not only distract the focus of our legislation but also cause a carbon lock-in.” The public sector has a role to play ” as currently the largest consumer in the economy while government expenditure in works, goods and services represent around 14% of EU GDP, accounting for roughly €1.8 trillion annually”He also conveyed his usual reservations with regards to hydrogen commenting: “I consider hydrogen as what it is: a subcategory of electrification with the caveat that hydrogen is three times less efficient than battery electric.” However pointing to the need  “that electricity or hydrogen used in the vehicles will need to be fully based on 100% additional renewables”.

Catherine Trautman, coordinator of the North Sea Baltic corrdior  kicked off the TEN T Days  Transport Decarbonisation and Clean Mobility Session on April 25 emphasizing the importance of the Flagship Actions in ensuring coordinated roll out of alternative fuels. The EHA submitted a proposal for a Flagship Action of this kind for hydrogen last December to build on the Synergies betweeen energy and trnasport networks with the TSO2020 project. Commissioner Oettinger did hint that indeed projects with this added EU value will be supported in the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework. Together with Commissioner Bulc  closing remarks that Synergy will be key in the future of all networks EHA is will continue to facilitate more alliance and action in this area in the coming months!