The standardisation bodies, CEN-CENELEC and ETS, were handed the specification for the standard this week by Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, who said a common approach is important both for industry and consumers.
The specification will allow plugs and connectors to use the same standard all across Europe. It is expected that the standard will be ready to apply by mid-2011.
Tajani said electric cars are no longer an abstract concept. “In the very near future these will be on our roads. To pave the way for their commercial success we cannot afford to have incompatible systems, leading to a fragmented market in Europe.”
The specification includes three objectives: to ensure that electric vehicles can be safely charged by their drivers; to ensure that electric vehicle chargers (including their removable batteries) interoperate with the electricity supply points and all types of electric vehicles, allowing users to recharge their electric vehicles anywhere in the EU using the same charger; to consider smart-charging that will allow users to charge vehicles at off-peak times.
The design of the European standard will take into account work going on in international standardisation bodies.
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