Momentum seems to be gathering for a major shift towards battery-powered vehicles in Europe. The Spanish government last month announced that it plans to have at least one million battery cars on the countries roads by 2014. This comes in an effort to reduce dependence on imported oil, which is rapidly increasing in price.
Meanwhile in Paris, Mayor Bertrand Delanoe has announced a new electric car-sharing scheme, after the huge success of a recently introduced bike-sharing scheme. Around 4,000 battery-powered cars will be made available at pick up stations located throughout Paris. Users will be able to rent a car for immediate use and return it to any other station paying only a per-mile charge. There will be some 700 pick-up locations throughout the city and suburbs. The mayor hopes to have the scheme in operation by 2010.
