“Small Electric Vehicles” – A new Taskforce by IEA Hybrid & Electric Vehicle TCP

Abstract

Small electric vehicles (SEVs) could replace conventional ICE cars in many applications, especially in urban areas and for commuting and shopping, logistics of small goods, for tourism and for elderly people, with a considerable environmental benefit. However the existing small electric vehicles have only limited success when compared to the whole car market. Furthermore we can also observe a number of prototypes or near-series developments which never made it to production until now. Therefore the International Energy Agency Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Technology Collaboration Program (HEV-TCP) started a Taskforce in April 2016 to examine the situation and potentials of small EVs. The objective of this task is to review the present status of small electric vehicles’ technologies by collecting existing concepts, describing the present market situation and deducing main hindering factors for market success as well as options to attain a higher market share. The Task addresses SEVs concepts, status of technologies and needs for research as well as the conditions to put them on the market. Apart from the vehicles themselves, the Task addresses also the potential future role of SEVs in advanced mobility concepts, including e.g. their role in concepts of sharing, increased automation and new public transport. This contribution presents the Taskforce and the objectives in detail and will explain how stakeholders can participate and may benefit from it