European standards will harmonise electric vehicle charging

New harmonised standards are being discussed that will allow recharging of electric vehicles across Europe. The move is required as part of a drive to achieve sustainable transport, as standardisation of the connection between the electricity grid and electric vehicles will help e-mobility gain a viable market share. A single harmonised plug system is needed for the recharging of electric vehicles on both the vehicle and the infrastructure sides. Various motoring and industry associations are involved in th
June 8, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

New harmonised standards are being discussed that will allow recharging of electric vehicles across Europe.

The move is required as part of a drive to achieve sustainable transport, as standardisation of the connection between the electricity grid and electric vehicles will help e-mobility gain a viable market share. A single harmonised plug system is needed for the recharging of electric vehicles on both the vehicle and the infrastructure sides. Various motoring and industry associations are involved in the issue and all agree that this needs to be solved as soon as possible. Recharging infrastructure is already installed in different Member States but before this is phased in on a wider scale, standard technologies will need to be used. The 2465 European Commission has to ensure the implementation of a single solution for the charging of electrically-chargeable vehicles in Europe as a result. This move will provide predictability to investors, enable economies of scale, reduce costs for stakeholders and is essential in increasing user acceptance. At present different countries in Europe use different types of plugs for electrical apparatus. The two pin socket used widely in many countries is not considered safe in others for example and any new charging system will have to be acceptable to all European Member States.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • A vision of roads
    September 3, 2012
    By 2040 European roads could be built differently, and hopefully be safer, according to the EU research programme NR2C
    Read More
  • Developments in hybrid vehicles
    February 27, 2012
    There is an array of future vehicle solutions in development - Mike Woof reports. Ever since Henry Ford's Model T showed that the motor car could provide transport for ordinary people rather than being an exclusive toy of the rich, vehicle numbers have exploded. In every country around the world, vehicle ownership continues to grow.
    Read More
  • Roads for the future
    July 31, 2012
    Speakers at the 3rd European Road Congress looked at ways of preparing infrastructure to cater for future demands. Patrick Smith reports Road accidents in Europe can be reduced substantially, but vehicles will have to make more use of technology, and they will cost more. The problems will not be made any easier with the knowledge that road transport is set to double between 2040 and 2050. These were just some of the forecasts made at the 3rd European Road Congress, held in Brussels, Belgium, a key road sect
    Read More
  • Call for new ways of funding road infrastructure
    February 16, 2012
    In the first of a two-part article, Jack Opiola, a prominent global expert on transport policy and a leading member of IRF Geneva's Policy Committee on ITS, introduces the urgent need to develop new, more equitable revenue mechanisms to replace fuel taxes as a means of funding and maintaining road infrastructure
    Read More

Highlighted Content