Representatives from 24 nations met in Washington, D.C. last week for the Clean Energy Ministerial. This leadership conference on the future of sustainable energy yielded a new partnership called the Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI). The EVI is a program involving nine nations and the International Energy Agency that will promote electric and alternative fuel vehicles worldwide. These nations include major markets like the United States, China, the United Kingdom and Germany. Members of the EVI will work together to create pilot cities, information sharing processes and strategic public investments.
Each nation in the EVI has stated an interest in creating multiple pilot cities for clean energy transportation. The pilot city program will be possible through partnerships between governments, research institutes and automakers. An interesting element of this EVI program is a commitment to testing a variety of alt-fuel vehicles. Every pilot city will go beyond EV testing by utilizing plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles to anticipate a more dynamic future for transportation. Researchers will look into charging, vehicle range and maintenance issues throughout the program.
Another component of the EVI is the promise to share green vehicle sales and production. EVI members have promised to share information on short-term and long-term plans for vehicle deployment. The International Smart Grid Action Network is a group within the EVI that will coordinate EV charging protocols among member nations.
The EVI will also be committed to billions of dollars in strategic public investments in cleaner transportation. Each member has promised to maintain transparency regarding public and private investments in research and development. This transparency will help the EVI members stay competitive in creating alt-fuel vehicles and infrastructure. Discussions at the Clean Energy Ministerial also covered possible funding of clean energy infrastructure in developing markets.
The general assembly of the Clean Energy Ministerial came out with additional partnerships to supplement the work of the EVI. Each minister committed to participation in clean energy education as well as the creation of “solutions centers.” The Ministerial also established working groups for solar, wind and hydropower development. These partnerships seem to be less focused than EVI, demonstrating that global applications of clean transportation technology are within reach. Leaders in the EVI will meet again during the upcoming Paris Motor Show and next year’s Shanghai Motor Show.
