EVS26 was unofficially launched Saturday by University of California and featured prominent speaker panels with well-known figures the emerging electric vehicle infrastructure. A few things stood out at World Electric Vehicle Cities & Ecosystems… BMW is playing a prominent role in global introduction of electric vehicles in Europe, North America, and Asia, though it’s typically not mentioned at all when references are made to EVs now on the market. Dr. Thomas Becker, Vice President Government Affairs for BMW Group, made a presentation on Project i, its megacity vehicle program in key global markets, which has tested out the Mini-E, BMW ActivE, and will launch the BMW i3 in 2013. It’s clear that BMW is ready to compete with luxury EV makers like Tesla, as it does with luxury internal combustion engine competitors… Metro markets around the world, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Shanghai, are pursuing proactive initiatives partnering public and private investments and EV infrastructure partners. The numbers are small, but it is an impressive start… Pay attention to what’s being done by UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation, and UC Davis programs such as Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Center and Institute of Transportation Studies (video interviews soon to come).
