Global EV Pilot City Programme launched at Clean Energy Ministerial

The Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) today launched the Global EV Pilot City Programme (PCP) on the side lines of the 9^th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) meeting in Copenhagen.

The PCP aims to build a network of one hundred EV-friendly cities, recognizing the unique perspective of cities on the promotion of electric vehicles. Cities face some of the most negative impacts of transportation, including noise and air pollution, yet can also be platforms for the development of innovations.

Cities will play a key role in helping to achieve the goal of EVI’s EV30@30 Campaign. This campaign, launched at the 2017 CEM Ministerial, has a collective aspirational goal for all EVI members of reaching a 30% market share for electric vehicles in the total of all passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, buses and trucks by 2030.

The PCP will contribute to the achievement of this goal by facilitating exchange across a network of cities interested in making it easier and more attractive for residents to make the switch to electric vehicles. The cities will work to establish common indicators to monitor EV-related developments – such as the number of vehicles, vehicle travel activity and the number and type of chargers available – and exchange information on successful policy practices and replicable solutions.

There are 30 cities currently committed to participating in the PCP, and 4 more are about to do so:

The Programme will be supported by an annual networking event, the Pilot City Forum. The first forum will be held in Helsinki on 28-29 May, offering an opportunity to cities to exchange directly and engage with other stakeholders interested in the urban deployment of EVs.

“Kanagawa Prefecture is the area where battery electric vehicles are most widely used in Japan. Through active exchange of opinions with each city, we would like to lead further promotion of electric vehicles in Kanagawa Prefecture. We also hope that PCP will be able to achieve results that will contribute to the promotion of electric vehicles in the world.”

- Yuji Kuroiwa, Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture

“Aichi Prefecture which has the largest industry in Japan is aiming to be a leading prefecture with regard to the environment. Therefore, we are promoting next generation vehicle (including EVs, PHVs, FCVs and so on) and infrastructure, cooperating with stakeholders.”

- Hideaki Ohmura, Governor of Aichi Prefecture

"Dundee is delighted to be involved in such an important international launch as we continue to invest in EV's as part of our city’s sustainable future. As well as our council having the largest fleet of electric vehicles of any local authority in the UK, our taxi industry has heavily invested in EV's and we have one of the most extensive charging infrastructures in Britain.”

- Councillor Lynne Short, Dundee City Council city development convener.

“There are many ways to create a sustainable mobility system. MRA-Electric has an active role in sharing experiences and knowledge within our region and internationally. Metropolitan areas are the breeding grounds for innovation and thanks to the support of the EV PCP, local best practices and pilots can be scaled up faster to cities across the globe. We are looking forward to a fruitful cooperation in which we can inspire each other to further improve the quality of life for our citizens.” 

- Maarten Linnenkamp, programme manager at MRA-Electric (Amsterdam Region)

“ In Mexico, actions in the transportation sector are key to supporting the fulfillment of the energy efficiency goals established in the Energy Reform through our Energy Transition Strategy to Promote the Use of Cleaner Technologies and Fuels. Likewise, electromobility is one of the axes that will lead the country towards a more sustainable energy future and a low carbon economy.”

- Leonardo Beltran, Deputy Minister for Energy Planning and Transition-Mexico

“As co-chair of the Electric Vehicle Initiative, Canada is pleased to support the Global EV Pilot Cities Program. We recognize the key role that electric vehicles will play in reducing emissions from the transportation sector and we are leading by example. The program complements Canada’s domestic efforts to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. Municipalities are at the forefront of EV deployment, and we are proud to have seven Canadian cities participating in this important program, with more to follow. Collaboration across all levels of government is essential in helping us achieve our climate change and clean growth objectives” 

- Kim Rudd, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources Canada