European strategy on clean and energy efficient vehicles

First, it sets out medium- to long-term objectives to promote a new industrial approach, based on clean and energy-efficient vehicles that will boost the competitiveness of the European industry and will provide new jobs and support restructuring. At the same time, the proper functioning of the internal market shall be preserved.

Second, the strategy should help European industry in taking globally a leading role in the deployment of alternative propulsion technologies that will serve as building blocks for the future worldwide mobility system. A visible global trend towards sustainable transport technologies, for example in the US and China shows that the competitiveness of the European automotive industry must be based on continued leadership in clean and energy efficient technologies.

Third, and most importantly the strategy will promote the creation of a green economy based on sustainability and will support the decarbonisation of transport.

The strategy will propose action in the areas where it can have distinct added value and complement the actions taken by industry, national and regional public authorities.

Demonstration of electric race car Volar-e

On 28 February 2013 the capabilities of the Volar-e, one the most powerful electric cars ever made, were demonstrated during the demanding Formula 1 test days in the Circuit de Catalunya (Barcelona), in the presence of European Commission Vice-President, Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneuship. The Volar-e was built by the Spanish company Applus Idiada with up to 50% financing by European funds. It can reach a top speed of 300 km/h, and move from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, providing more than 1000 HP power. A second public demonstration will take place the 10 March in Barcelona's Passeig de Colom.

Vice-President Tajani, Sebastian Salvado, RACC and Carles Fats, CEO of Applus + IDIADA during a presentation of Volar-e

More photos of the event

Communication from the Commission

This Communication, adopted on 28 April 2010, sets out a strategy for encouraging the development and uptake of clean and energy efficient ("green") heavy- (buses and trucks) and light-duty vehicles (cars and vans) as well as two- and three-wheelers and quadricycles.

Communication from the Commission: A European strategy on clean and energy efficient vehicles

Public hearing

On 11 March 2010, the Commission organized a public hearing on the European strategy on clean and energy efficient vehicles. By means of this public hearing, the Commission seeked to engage the stakeholders in a stock-taking with respect to clean and energy efficient vehicles and an assessment of future scenarios in terms of technology and market development including the role of the Commission with respect to these developments.

Presentations made at the public hearing

Written contributions and Synthesis of stakeholder comments

Regardless of whether they participated in the hearing or not, all stakeholders were invited to send their written contribution.

Written contributions

Synthesis of stakeholder comments [73 KB]

Roadmap on regulations and standards for the electrification of cars

The roadmap describes the state-of-play with regard to regulatory and standardisation activities both at the European and international level.

Roadmap on regulations and standards for the electrification of cars [18 KB] Updated 15.12.2010

Final Report - Electric vehicles: Review of type-approval legislation and potential risks

Final Report - Electric vehicles: Review of type-approval legislation and potential risks (June 2010) [991 KB]

State of play 2010

Commission Staff Working Document: "A European Strategy for clean and energy efficient vehicles" - Rolling Plan [69 KB]

"Electric vehicles - challenges of the new mobility" Conference - Sofia, Bulgaria, 11.02.2011

Speech by Mr. Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission [69 KB]
Speech by Mr. Philippe Jean, DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission [27 KB]  

Informal working groups on electric vehicles

The introduction of electrical cars will get a further boost with an international agreement  which was signed  in Geneva (Switzerland) on 17 November 2011. The partners agreed to closely cooperate on convergence of regulatory obligations related to electric vehicles in the global context. This will lead to cost savings through economies of scale for automotive manufacturers. Currently they only produce relatively small volumes of electric vehicles in different world regions. Under the proposed cooperating agreement two onformal working groups on electric vehicles will be set up.

The first group will focus on the safety aspects of electric vehicles and their components, including the battery. It will cover the safety of occupants against electric shocks in-use, while recharging as well as after an accident. The second group will address environmental regulations applied to electric vehicles. The proposal for setting up the  two informal working groups on electric vehicles (EVs) comes at the initiative of the European Commission, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan.

Press release: International agreed rules to speed up introduction of electric vehicles

UNECE informal document: Proposal for establishment of two informal working groups addressing the safety and environmental requirements for electric vehicles to enhance regulatory cooperation including developing Global Technical Regulations in the framework of the 1998 Agreement

State of play 2011

Commission Staff Working Paper: "A European strategy for clean and energy efficient vehicles” - State of play 2011 [87 KB]

Fina report - Competitiveness of the EU Automotive Industry in Electric Vehicles (December 2012)

Fina report - Competitiveness of the EU Automotive Industry in Electric Vehicles (December 2012) [11 MB]