Electric cars the new Finnish export item
Lehtikuva / Pekka Sakki Finnish Elcat has already produced over 200 Elcat Cityvan electric vehicles, which are in use in many different countries.According to the taskforce of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy the manufacture and designing of electric vehicles may become a noteworthy Finnish export industry sector by 2020. The taskforce presented their report to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mauri Pekkarinen on the 6th of August.
According to the taskforce the foundation of the industry would be built on the current vehicle assembly and battery industries as well as by directing software-, electronic device- and power electronics industries towards electric vehicles. The sector would be strengthened by the manufacture of mobile work machinery and developing services within the recharging infrastructure
The taskforce estimates that the turnover for the sector in 2020, when measured in current currency, would be between 1-2 billion Euros and the immediate employing effect several thousands of man-years. Out of all the new cars sold in Finland about one quarter would be plug-in electric cars, while 40 per cent of these would be full-electric cars.
The birth of Finnish electric vehicle cluster is supported by already established initiatives. These are for instance the manufacture of the Fisker Karma hybrid vehicles at Valmet Oy's factories in Uusikaupunki and the completion of the construction of European Batteries Oy battery factory in Varkaus.
According to the taskforce the public sector should support the establishment of the electric vehicle cluster by different means of trade and innovation politics. Also direct governmental subsidies for those choosing to purchase an electric vehicle is suggested.
Finlandis a forerunner in the sector for the load bearing capacity of the country's electricity networks, which already enables a wide scale use of electric vehicles. In addition, about 1,5 million grounded plugs are already available outdoors. These plugs are either already suitable for, or easily convertible into recharging points for electric vehicles.
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