3FOOD

Third Industrial Revolution Consulting Group
EV charging must be smart. This means avoiding a scenario with all EVs charging at the same
time. The charging, communication and billing infrastructure must be further developed and
established to enable and force smart charging.
1.3 Public Policy Measures
There is much uncertainty in the time needed to obtain a substantial uptake of EV. So far, with
the exception of electric bikes, EVs have faced extreme difficulties in developing into a mass
marketed product, and all past predictions of future demand have forecasted a faster market
penetration than what has occurred. The price of the vehicle, the short travel range, a dearth of
recharging stations, and consumer skepticism (see for example results from the recent
European Green eMotion Project) have all led to slow EV penetration of the market. 87
A number of paths are available to win over consumers to the new EV mode of transportation,
including:
- Providing the right information about how EVs work and contrast the spread of negative
information, especially when not accurate (such as the famous “range anxiety”).
- Allowing individuals to make their own experience, building trial programs where citizens
can test the EVs for a given period.
- Building specific programs to help individuals understand to what extent their daily
routine will change due to the use of the EVs and how they can restructure their routine
efficiently.
- Favoring leasing programs that reduce the risk of not being able to sell the used EV and
allow individuals to make a less risky personal experience, eventually combined with a
service to exchange with another ICE car for longer trips.
- Establishing an interdisciplinary taskforce of officials from government, the business
community, and academia (including MEC, MDDI, DSO, ILR) to identify regulatory
proposals. Items for consideration should include standardized accessibility of charging
points, new buildings pre-equipment obligations, energy sent back to the grid, and new
revenue and business models, etc. Infrastructure needs should be a priority, and new
legislation should be considered, allowing new vehicle registration only for emission-free
vehicles from 2025 onwards.
- Ensuring sustainable electric batteries. For a truly sustainable EV developement, the
entire environmental life cycle should be considered for electric batteries. Circularity
should be encouraged as well as development of bio-based batteries through publicprivate
partnerships. (cf. circular economy)
87 See: http://www.greenemotion-project.eu/
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