Key actions to help increase electric vehicle ownership and balance grid demand have been revealed in a new white paper that calls for public authorities to lead by example on EV take-up and for low-emission zones to help drive change.

Proposals provide solutions to increasing electric vehicle ownership and unblocking development of energy storage and vehicle-to-grid technology

Intended to help Europe to meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, the research has been led by Nissan, as part of the European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities (EIP-SCC) programme supported by the European Commission.

The white paper explores the pivotal role battery technology will play, the need to ensure batteries have a full second life as mobile or static storage units, and the ways to tackle the current obstacles to delivering energy systems such as vehicle-to-grid.

As well as taking action by increasing the amount of electrified vehicles in public fleets, public authorities are also urged to use low-emissions zones within urban areas to drive behavioural change.

The paper also calls for the introduction of vehicle incentives targeting mid-range EV models to drive uptake in mass-market segments and for tax incentives based on environmental impact and the amount of energy sent back to the grid from EVs.

The report also calls for integrated policy making between mobility and energy, rather than dealing with both in isolation, and for mandatory or incentivised installation of renewable and energy efficiency technologies, as well as smart charging points, in new commercial buildings.

Friederike Kienitz, Nissan Europe vice president for communications, legal, external & government affairs, said: “To meet the challenges Europe faces we need a fundamental rethink on how mobility and energy policies are designed.

“There is much work to be done if Europe is to achieve its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050 and this white paper sets out how to get there at the national, regional and municipal level.”

To access the white paper, click here.