Germany launched a campaign today to put 1 million electric cars on the road by 2020, making battery research a priority as it tries to position the country as a market leader.
The program, which draws on euro500 million ($705 million) set aside in an economic stimulus package earlier this year but leaves many financing details up to the next government, drew criticism for being too vague.
“It is our aim to make Germany into the market leader for electric mobility,” Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said after the Cabinet approved the plan.
He said the 1 million target by 2020 “is an ambitious aim, but one that we believe can be realized.”
The government plans to spend euro115 million ($162 million) examining in eight test regions how the cars could best be introduced.
It also plans to put euro170 million (about $240 million) into research on the batteries that power electric cars, making domestic production a priority and ensuring that German experts are trained in the technology.
Germany’s car companies have scrambled to catch up to their competitors elsewhere in electric technology.
Volkswagen AG has said it hopes to introduce its first electric cars on the market in 2013, while Daimler AG is working together with California-based electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. on developing better battery and electric drive systems for vehicles destined for the consumer market.
Daimler and utility RWE AG plan to unveil a joint electric car and charging station test in Berlin by the end of this year.
In the U.S., General Motors Co. is set to release next year its Chevrolet Volt, a rechargeable electric vehicle. (AP)
Â
Â
