Electric cars are already a reality

In today's electronic world, the transport sector is one of the few areas which have still not been electrified. But companies, trade associations and authorities all agree on the advantages of electricity as a fuel, and research and joint projects are under way to push development forward.

For example, electricity is considerably cheaper than other fuels, costing about 0.03 euro per kilometre; it also means quieter travel and greatly reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Electric cars also open up the possibility of using wind power more efficiently, by giving the option of recharging at times when there is a surplus of wind-produced electricity. Vattenfall is one of the leading energy companies in Europe in the development of services in this field.

Electric cars are no longer just an idea and a topic of discussion. All the major car manufacturers are now launching their own electric-powered models, and these are expected to conquer even the most tenacious preconceived ideas about the pleasure of driving being lost. This is because today's electric cars bring both reduced use of fossil fuels and reduced carbon dioxide emissions, while the feeling behind the wheel remains.

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid – is the result of a joint venture between Volvo Cars and Vattenfall, and market indications suggests the first batch of 1,000 cars will have been sold even before production starts in the autumn of 2012.

The world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid car

This is evidenced, for example, by the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, which emits less than 50g of carbon dioxide per kilometre. It can be driven as a diesel vehicle, as a hybrid or as an electric vehicle, and is the only such car in the world today. The collaboration between Volvo and Vattenfall shows how different companies can combine their powers of innovation and their expertise to develop transport solutions which really curb society's climate problems and dependence on oil. The same can be said of Vattenfall's collaboration with BMW in Germany and with Nissan-Renault in Sweden.

We offer services for charging the cars, both to private and professional customers, as well as for public charging sites. For example, we supply the city of Amsterdam with public charging solutions and solutions for credit card payments. So far we have set up around 200 charging stations. We continue discussions with other cities and municipalities to help them with suitable infrastructure.

Such collaborations form part of our e-mobility business area. Here, we work not only on electric cars but on electrification of various types of transport. And we will continue our collaboration with various car manufacturers as part of this business area. If you are the owner of an electric car you can turn to Vattenfall for services to help you. We offer total solutions for recharging your electric car in a smart, convenient and environmentally-friendly way. But we will also continue to collaborate with other industries and with social authorities and organisations. Vattenfall want to be at the forefront in the area of electric transport solutions and electric cars using renewable energy.