Over 250,000 EVs to Be Sold in Europe by 2015

Business Wire, July 4, 2008

Inventive Financial Plans Boost the Passenger Electric Vehicle Market

LONDON -- Depleting reserves of fossil fuels and rising levels of greenhouse emissions are expected to break electric vehicles (EVs) out of their niche end-user segments. The mainstream adoption of EV will open up opportunities for utilities, suppliers and finance businesses, as efforts are being made to create a one-stop shop for vehicles and energy.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users and other industry participants with an overview of the strategic assessment of the European passenger EV market, then send an e-mail to Anna Anlauft, Corporate Communications, at anna.anlauft@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.

The OEMs have little choice but to be part of the EV market, if they are to address the escalating energy situation. They will be encouraged by novel financial models and the advent of lithium ion battery technology, which are expected to revolutionize the automotive industry.

There could be a sudden movement towards the battery leasing business, which will be initiated by the EVs and sustained by the OEMs. It remains to be seen if the consumers adapt well to this innovative financial model.

Apart from the possible opportunities created by battery leasing, the market is also getting a leg up from the federal and local governments, which are helping OEMs to match the prices of EVs through legislation, benefits and rebates.

"The rate at which the consumers accept the leasing model and the degree of benefit the end users derive from the business model will play a decisive role," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Anjan Hemanth Kumar. "In parallel technological enhancements with respect to the battery packs is equally important. With the increase in driving range, the customer base increases beyond the city limits. A battery pack of up to 100 mile range can tap suburban population and neighbourhood cities; a pack with 150 plus miles can tap rural population there by potentially touching more than 3 million likely EV buyers."

There are already several punitive legislation in place for gas-guzzlers in London, where offenders can be charged between 8.00 and 20.00. Congestion charging is expected being implemented in Milan, Oslo, Manchester, and Madrid, where the charges are likely to be between [euro]1.00 and [euro]25.00. On the strength of these favourable directives, the European EV market is estimated to roll out more than 250,000 vehicles by 2015.

Until 2012, EV companies are likely to target hot spots such as London, Stockholm, Oslo and Rome, and the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, France, Italy and Spain are likely to constitute 93 per cent of the sales in Europe. However, once EV manufacturers enhance the safety features and range of their products, they will widen their market's geographical boundaries.

OEMs and related companies are expected to adopt various financial models to increase sales, but leasing is expected to be the most popular and could account for 75 per cent of sales by 2015. During the same period, bigger OEMs are likely to eat into 76 per cent of the market currently occupied by small OEMs.

"OEMs will compete in all customer segments - from economy to premium - and the prices are expected to range from [euro]11,000 to [euro]348,000," notes Kumar. "EVs could potentially offer monthly savings of [euro]150-700 to drivers, encouraging buyers to make ROI-based purchase decision."

Strategic Assessment of European Passenger Electric Vehicles Market is part of the Automotive & Transportation Growth Partnership Service programme, which also includes research in the following markets: strategic review of global bio fuels market for automotive applications as well as strategic assessment for European market for micro, mild and full hybrids. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

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Strategic Assessment of European Passenger Electric Vehicles Market

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