Cluster formed to promote electric mobility in Hungary
The Ányos Jedlik Cluster has been formed under the supervision of the Ministry for National Economy and the National Innovation Office in the interests of the earliest possible implementation of the Ányos Jedlik Plan, which aims to promote the popularity of electric vehicles, reported Hungarian news agency MTI.
At the press conference held in Budapest to announce the formation of the Cluster, Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga stressed that the Government primarily plans to promote electromobility through changes in legislation and indirect incentives.
To accompany the Ányos Jedlik Plan, the Government would like to introduce green number plates to distinguish various hybrid and electric vehicles, in addition to which it plans to introduce 0% VAT for such vehicles and related infrastructure, the Minister said.
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| One of the founding members is evopro, the developer of the Modulo bus |
Mr. Varga also stated that parking and road toll discounts would be available for plug-in hybrid, increased range hybrid and purely electric vehicles, in addition to which they could be allowed to use bus lanes. The Minister for National Economy also said that plans included the amendment of the Electricity Act to also enable the operators of petrol stations to sell electricity.
A special supervisory procedure would also be introduced to regulate the establishment of electric charging stations, in addition to which various hybrid and electric vehicles will be included in government and central government agency fleets.
Mihály Varga emphasised that Hungary would like to lead Central Europe in electromobility and explained that although there are currently very few alternative fuel vehicles on the roads, according to a forecast by the International Energy Agency, by 2050, 70 percent of new vehicles sold will be hybrids or plug-in hybrids. “It is therefore also our important economic interest that Hungary should be a part of this transition and is able to become involved in development”, he said.
The Minister pointed out that the Government announced the Ányos Jedlik Plan in March 2014, with the aim of not only fulfilling EU objectives, but also supporting Hungarian innovation workshops, developing supplier networks and creating new jobs. The Cluster has been formed to help enable those enterprises engaged in the development of practical applications to help promote electromobility to take part in the development of the Plan.
The Ministry for National Economy’s Minister of State for Economic Regulation Béla Glattfelder emphasised that the European Union directive on the establishment of infrastructure for alternative vehicle fuels is expected to be issued this November, and will determine that member states have two years from the date of issue to develop their respective national plans on the subject. The Government hopes that Hungary can be the first member state with a complete plan; this national plan will be the Ányos Jedlik Plan.
The Minster of State told the press that the Ministry would like the Government to adopt the Plan, and that following the issuing of the relevant Government Decree, the implementation of the Plan would begin with the related legislative amendments and the development of funding systems.
Chairman of the Cluster Péter Tarnóy emphasised that Hungary is at least four years behind Western Europe with regard to electromobility, but this could be an advantage in that it offers an opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes.
The level of expert knowledge of the current members of the Cluster is such that they will be able to cooperate successfully and expand the Cluster with new members, Mr. Tarnóy said, according to whom Hungary has the capability to become an electromobility superpower.
(MTI)
