Repsol and the Basque energy board agree to create a network for electric vehicles in the Basque country

The partners will carry out an initial study to asses the viability of different battery-recharging systems and quick-change battery services for electric vehicles.

Following the initial study, technical specifications for the chosen solution will be determined and the ideal locations to develop the network will be selected.

Antonio Brufau, Chairman of Spain’s largest supplier of fuel for transportation, said “Repsol shares society’s concerns, and for this reason we participate in the development of new technologies for transport.” The company is analysing new business models that may arise from the introduction of new vehicles, specially electric ones.

The agreement “aims to contribute to security of supply with fuels that are efficient in terms of costs and which contribute to achieving global sustainability targets,” Brufau said.

The Renault–Nissan Alliance and the city of Barcelona signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the development of zero emission mobility in the Catalan capital. The two organizations will work together to identify areas of co-operations in promoting the use of zero emission vehicles in the city.

Barcelona has made environmental sustainability a key policy initiative through the use of renewable sources of energy and the reduction of CO2 emissions. Earlier this year, Barcelona made public its plans to implement a sustainable mobility program by creating the necessary conditions to make electric vehicles an alternative to traditional means of transportation. The scheme includes tax breaks for EV buyers, as well as dedicated EV-only zones and parking spaces. The plan also calls for the establishment of 191 charging points across the city by 2011.

Spain became the latest European country to set out plans to reduce carbon emissions and oil imports, as the government committed to having a million electric vehicles on its roads by 2014 and unveiled one of the most ambitious energy efficiency programmes ever pursued by a major economy.

Spain has been hit particularly hard by rising oil prices. Despite being a leader in solar and wind power, fossil fuels still account for 80 per cent of the country’s energy mix and with minimal natural reserves the country is heavily reliant on imports. The government estimates it has spent €17bn on oil imports in the last year alone.

The Ministry of Industry and the Institute for Diversifying and Saving Energy have come up with a plan that they’re calling Proyecto Movele. Under Movele, the government would install an electric car infrastructure in several cities and subsidize private purchase of a small fleet of electric cars (as well as buying some for itself).

www.repsol.com/es_en/