Industry News
European Partnership Expands to Accelerate Deployment of Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles
Posted 31st October 2011
Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Electromobility for European Regions (HyER), a European partnership which aims to accelerate the deployment of zero emission vehicles and transport infrastructure has expanded to 32 European Regions and Municipalities, welcoming the City of Rotterdam and the Region of Poitou Charentes.
At the partnership’s Annual General Assembly in Brussels, and in the presence of the European Commission, a new activity plan and statutes were approved, demonstrating a commitment to the deployment of zero emissions vehicles and local transport infrastructure development. The Assembly noted that the role of regional and local authorities in strategic energy and transport planning, legislation and funding will grow as the need for economically and environmentally sustainable mobility increases.
Andreas Ziolek, Chairman of HyER’s Board and Director of the Network for Fuel Cells and Hydrogen of North Rhine-Westphalia noted that, “the experiences of our partnership have demonstrated the need for a more intensive European-wide survey to inform effective policy making. We have invited key players in electromobility and infrastructure deployment to share their views and recommendations, enabling us to set up a European Electromobility Observatory that will help EU policy makers develop the right policy and financial framework to accelerate deployment.”
The European Union’s DG Move Director of Innovative and Sustainable Mobility, Fotis Karamitsos, congratulated HyER on its achievements to date and confirmed European Commission support for the European Electromobility Observatory plans.
Further information on the Partnership and the European Electromobility Observatory can be found here.
