- Suffice to say that Sweden is lagging behind at least the leading EU countries. France and Spain are already underway with very comprehensive investments. Germany, Portugal and the UK are also working ambitiously. It is not certain that all aspects of these efforts are especially sensible or well balanced, but from a Swedish perspective it is important that we are careful not to slip too far behind. For the Swedish automotive industry to cope with the shift to more environmentally friendly fuels without losing competitiveness, it is very important for us on the political side to be active and closely follow what´s happening in the outside world.
Is the business sector represented at the seminar, or is there a political will to raise the electric car issue?
We will have several business sector representatives involved at the seminar. This is clearly a case where the business sector, research and politics must work very closely together. We politicians cannot be too meddlesome and domineering, but we cannot be passive either. We need to keep ourselves very well informed so that the environmental priorities are correct and the taxpayers´ money is actually used in the proper way. If, for example, we chose to go in with subsidies then they would have to be specific and founded on a good knowledge base. In many places in Europe there are already electric car premiums in the order of SEK 50 000. In Sweden it is high time we very specifically asked ourselves what the Swedish government can and should do in terms of the form of incentives for example.
Who is the seminar aimed at?
The general public. Everyone who is interested is most welcome. It is very important that “the man on the street" also has his eyes opened to these issues. Any shift to electric cars requires quite large changes in terms of infrastructure for example and will change the pattern of traffic on our roads. One of several interesting points that will revolutionize the traffic environment is that electric cars are of course much quieter than fossil fuel cars. This is a bigger issue than you might at first think. Then of course in the final analysis it is the motorists themselves who actually have to choose electricity instead of less environmentally friendly alternatives in order for there to be any shift to electric cars at all.
What do you hope that the seminar will result in?
A greater interest in, and focus on the issue. We really need to get a proper debate going on this. There have been some minor policy initiatives and the issue has been discussed sporadically, but we have now reached a point where we must take a holistic approach. It is particularly topical in western Sweden, where the automotive industry is of course an important key to the region being able to continue to develop positively.
Will there be a chance to see any electric cars at the seminar?
That remains to be seen. We are currently in the midst of the planning.
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| Automotive Sweden |
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| Box 111 19 |
| 404 23 Göteborg |
| Telefon. | +46 (0)31 61 24 02 |
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| Fax. | +46 (0)31 61 24 01 |
| E-post. | info@automotivesweden.se |
