The Initiative aims to rapidly increase market development of Electric and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles, to reach a combined target estimated to be about 20 million vehicles on the road by 2020.
1 October 2010: The International Energy Agency (IEA), in cooperation with eight partner countries, launched the “Electric Vehicles Initiative” at the Paris Motor Show, in Paris, France.
First announced at the Clean Energy Ministerial in Washington, DC, US, in July of 2010, the IEA and the Governments of China, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the US created the Electric Vehicles Initiative with the aim of rapidly increasing market development of Electric and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (EV/PHEVs) around the world to help reduce global carbon dioxide emissions. The initiative has the target of reaching 20 million vehicles by 2020, 200 million by 2030 and one billion by 2050.
Partner countries have agreed to promote electric vehicle demonstrations in urban areas, and increase information sharing on funding levels, research and development, electric vehicle deployment targets, and best practices and policies. More specific national targets initiatives are to be unveiled at the 25th World Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition in Shenzhen, China, in November 2010. [IEA Press Release]