Portugal: 10% of all cars electric by 2020

Portuguese prime minister José Sócrates said his country wants at least 10% of the nation's car fleet to become electric by 2020. The announcement was made at Abu Dhabi's World Future Energy Summit (WFES 2011), where the Portuguese Government and some of the nation's top CEOs have showcased their latest renewable energy projects.

Mobi.e, Portugal's electric mobility network, was one of the stars, with its stand attracting investors and particularly many young Emiratis interested in electric cars.

CEIIA's MobiCar was also on display, with the Portuguese media reporting on Lebanon's Government interest in the low-cost electric vehicle.

Portuguese technology will soon be incorporated in Masdar City, a high-density, pedestrian-friendly development near Abu Dhabi, where current and future renewable energy and clean technologies are showcased, marketed, researched, developed, tested and implemented.

Related posts (in Portuguese):

VIDEO: Portugal apresenta Mobi.e e MobiCar em Abu Dhabi
MobiCar desperta interesse internacional em Abu Dhabi


More on WFES 2011:

UN calls for clean energy revolution (Khaleej Times)
Renewable energy sector has lots of spark left, experts say (Khaleej Times)
Masdar World Future Energy Summit (Environmental News Network)

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MobiCar desperta interesse internacional

Do Mobi-e: O MobiCar – primeiro veículo eléctrico a utilizar tecnologia portuguesa, integrado na rede de carregamento Mobi.E – está a despertar as atenções na World Future Energy Summit (WFES), em Abu Dhabi. "Há várias entidades interessadas na transferência de tecnologia associada ao carro",afirmou à agência Lusa Manuel Oliveira, director de prototipagem do CEIIA (Centro para a Excelência e Inovação na Indústria Automóvel).

Além de "entidades ligadas ao governo do Líbano", Manuel Oliveira adianta que existem outras empresas internacionais "interessadas na produção e comercialização do carro eléctrico português"

O projecto do MobiCar encontra-se ainda numa fase de protótipo, que compreende a construção de 350 veículos para pré-séries destinados a testes. A produção do veículo deverá iniciar-se no segundo semestre de 2012 pela V.N Automóveis, em Vendas Novas.

Em finais de 2010, numa entrevista ao Diário Económico, o presidente do CEIIA, Aloísio Leão, defendeu a existência de um novo paradigma de mobilidade associada ao automóvel: "Nos últimos salões automóveis internacionais não houve marca que não tenha apresentado um veículo eléctrico. O paradigma actual tem os seus dias contados".

Portugal não só está a investir na produção de carros eléctricos, como também está a desenvolver uma rede – Mobi.E – que assegura o abastecimento destes mesmos veículos, a nível nacional. Prevê-se que no final deste ano, o número de pontos de carregamento chegue aos 1300.

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Portugal starts production of the Mobicar

Portugal's 100% electric Mobicar (no relation to this blog's name) will start to be assembled in 2011 and will roll out on to the steets in 2012, with local media reporting a final tag price of 9.000 euros (12.000 dollars), yet to be confirmed.

With an autonomy of 120 km (74 miles) and a top speed of 100 kmph (62 mph), the three-seater compact vehicle is being developed at the CEIIA (Centre for Excellence and Innovation in the Automotive Industry) in Porto, in collaboration with Spain's CTAG, among 70 other entities, companies and universities. Initial production is limited to 350 test units. For 2012, 6250 Mobicars are expected to roll out the Vendas Novas Isuzu plant.

Portugal already has over 100 charging stations and will get a further 1200 plug-in stations until December 2011, in a project led by Mobi.e. The network, with an open business model, allows any consumer the access to any provider of electricity in any charging point explored by any service operator. The country exempts EVs from most taxes.

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