This spring will see the introduction of a number of new strategic partnerships aimed at developing infrastructure for vehicles that run on electricity, gas and hydrogen. Stakeholders such as local governments and owners of large car fleets are invited to take part in such partnerships. The goal is to create the greatest possible impact and increase the number of energy-efficient vehicles driving on the roads.

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Public-private cooperation necessary 

Minister for Climate, Energy and Buildings, Martin Lidegaard says:

“I hope the partnerships will give these types of vehicles the push they need. We have made funds available but if we are going to get anywhere we also need the private sector to contribute to developing infrastructure and to put vehicles on the road.”

Partnerships promoting electric cars will receive DKK40m (€5.3m) over the next three years. The first DKK 20m (€2.7m) will be made available in 2013. Electric car technology is now safe and mature enough for the market. The challenge now is to increase their numbers on the roads. This will only happen once there is increased demand and sufficient consumer familiarity with the technology.

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Quick development in the years to come

One ambition of the partnerships is to create both publicly and privately owned fleets of electric cars. The public sector will provide the infrastructure while the private sector will make further infrastructure contributions as well provide the vehicles.

“Many have already declared the vehicles a disaster but mass-produced electric cars only became widely available last year. I’m convinced that we will see things develop quickly in the coming years,” says Climate, Energy and Buildings Minister Martin Lidegaard.

Exploring potential of natural gas and hydrogen

Partnerships to provide natural gas for heavy transport will be granted DKK 20m (€2.7m) over three years. Natural gas is mostly used by heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses. The use of natural gas fuel is already a mature technology. There are still questions that need to be answered, however, especially concerning financing for businesses that will transport and run natural gas refilling stations.

DKK 10m (€1.3m) has been set aside to develop infrastructure for vehicles running on hydrogen. The technology is not yet ready to be introduced to the market, however, so most of the funds will be made available in 2015, when more vehicles are expected to be ready.

A range of technologies is necessary

“Shifting transportation toward renewable energy will be a great challenge. We will need a range of technologies to cover the needs of both cars and heavier vehicles. The money and new partnerships will form an important basis for development of the technologies over the coming years,” says Climate, Energy and Buildings Minister Martin Lidegaard.

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To speak with Minister for Climate, Energy and Buildings Martin Lidegaard, please contact public affairs officer Claus Kaae-Nielsen on +45 4172 9011 or by e-mail at [email protected]

Source: Ministry of Climate, Energy and Building

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