Ambitious political plans for electric & hydrogen cars in Copenhagen & Denmark
24.03.2009
Within the past week a number of ambitious politician plans for electric and hydrogen cars in Copenhagen & Denmark have been published. The new climate plan for the municipality of Copenhagen sets the target that 85% of all cars in the municipality service are electric and hydrogen powered in 2015 corresponding to 600 cars. A new energy plan from the Conservatives government party in Denmark suggest a continuation of the present registration tax exemption on electric & hydrogen cars throughout 2015, thus avoiding the normal taxation on up to 180% of the base car price. The plan also calls for strong investments in hydrogen refuelling stations allowing for all new car sales in 2025 to be electric and hydrogen only. Further public funding for energy R/D/D are to be doubled to €134 million annually, where 1/3 of the funds in the past have been spent on hydrogen and fuel cells.
The political plans continue and significantly support the strong efforts of the Hydrogen Link Denmark as well as the Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership to ensure the region as one amongst the first in the world where hydrogen fuel cell cars are market introduced.
Today four hydrogen refueling stations and around 20 vehicles are in operation in Scandinavia with ongoing activities to ensure further 9 stations in the coming year together with up to 50 vehicles. Earlier this year the Municipality of Copenhagen signed a contract on supply of 15 fuel cell vehicles to be put in operation onwards the United Nations Climate Meeting in December together with plans for a hydrogen refueling station.
Onwards 2015 it is the ambition to further increase number of vehicles and stations in Denmark as well as Scandinavia enabling market introduction. The political plans for electric and hydrogen vehicles are an important step towards ensuring the necessary market frame conditions and political support for such development.
Below are summarized the main electric & hydrogen car initiatives in the political plans:
Electric & hydrogen car initiatives in Conservatives government party
Target that all new car sales in Denmark in 2025 are electric and hydrogen
Continuation of registration tax exemption on electric & hydrogen cars throughout 2015 (avoiding up to 180% tax on base car price)
Roll-out of national network of hydrogen refueling stations & infrastructure by 2011
Initiation of tests with hydrogen busses in the major cities
Free public parking for electric & hydrogen cars
Doubling of annual national support for R&D and demonstration of new energy technologies from €67 million to €134 million, including support for fuel cell vehicles & hydrogen refueling stations (1/3 of all annual public funding in the past have been spent on hydrogen & fuel cells)
Electric & hydrogen car initiatives in Copenhagen Municipality Climate Plan
From 2011 all new car procurement in the municipality are to be electric & hydrogen
In 2015 85% of all municipality cars are to electric or hydrogen, corresponding to 600 cars
Free parking in Copenhagen for electric & hydrogen cars
CO2 emissions from busses to be reduced with 25% through use of electricity & hydrogen
Vision of becoming a CO2 neutral municipality in 2025
Further information:
Flemming Wennike
Foreningsleder
Hydrogen Link Danmark
+45 2938 3965 fw@hydrogenlink.net
Hydrogen Link Denmark Association
Hydrogen Link is an association working to advance the use of hydrogen and fuel cells in combination with batteries for transport in Denmark. Hydrogen Link initiates and acts as national network for hydrogen and fuel cell research, development and demonstration projects. Further Hydrogen Link coordinates the build-up of hydrogen filling stations and roll out of hydrogen powered vehicles in Denmark. Hydrogen Link is part of the Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership that works towards becoming one of the first regions in Europe where hydrogen is available and used in a network of refuelling stations www.scandinavianhydrogen.org
News 
