The apparent volatility of fossil fuel prices, the oil dependency and the predictable
shortage of crude oil are driving concerns about the future security of energy supply.
At the same time, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are causing severe changes of
the world climate that are posing a serious threat for the environment and the human
health. This situation is increasingly calling for non-fossil generation and efficient use
of energy. Being both the major oil-consuming economic sector and the backbone
of globally competitive industries in Europe, mobility and transport will thus soon
undergo step changes of technologies, business models and user behaviour.
Furthermore, fossil fuels will more and more be complemented by renewable, low-
carbon alternatives like biomass, wind and solar power as sources of energy for
transport.

First automobiles running on alternative energies like biofuel blends already exist,
and some other modified or completely new powertrain concepts are currently under
development, e.g. traction based on high degrees of biofuels, hybrid, plugin-hybrid,
and battery-electric vehicles, as well as hydrogen and fuel cell cars. There is still
research needed to explore the best combination of fuel type and vehicle concept for
a given condition, location and user profile. An over-all assessment has to consider
factors ranging from GHG emission, air pollution and energy security to fundamental
production items, as well as the availability and reuse of raw materials in well-towheel
studies and life cycle assessments. In most cases, battery electric vehicles
powered by regenerative energy are obviously the best option.

In light of current activities of various high tech industry locations and regions
worldwide to take the opportunities of the electrification of road transport for their
economies the goal of this paper is to develop a pan-European concept for the
“Electrification of the Urban Mobility an Transport System”. Therefore the concept of
plugin-hybrid and battery-electric vehicles is outlined and opportunities and threats
as well as the needs for research, development, and demonstration are highlighted.
The findings on specific R&D needs and strategic recommendations are based on
the broad expertise of ERTRAC stakeholders, the joint European task force on urban
mobility research, including direct input from CLEPA, EARPA, ERTICO, EUCAR,
FEHRL, POLIS, UITP, and the European Technology Platform on Smart Systems
Integration, EPoSS.

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