An international cooperative effort to make electric vehicles affordable and accessible was announced during the COP 15 climate conference in Copenhagen. DNV is part of the effort and has assembled a team to define a road map for DNV moving forward with sustainable mobility.
On Dec 13 – the Electric Vehicle Demonstration Day of the conference – the Zero Emission Mobility (ZEM) initiative was announced with the launch of a collaborative research program on battery finance and lifetime modelling. Also at the event was the signing of the largest regional electric vehicle (EV) demonstration program in Europe that promotes “clean mobility-on-demand, a modern way to make electric vehicles widely accessible.”
“Access to electric vehicles must be simple and cost efficient. We must insulate the user from the complex battery technology and the risk associated with new technology”, says Jan-Olaf Willums, Chairman of the ZEM Initiative.
In partnership with utilities and car manufacturers, ZEM will help finance batteries and offer monthly and per kilometre use of EVs, while helping make EVs accessible through multiple and shared use models.
"To get the best financing, a better understanding is needed into what influences the battery value of its lifetime, extending that useful life by regularly monitoring and optimally managing the battery while in use, and capturing the value after it has finished its useful life in a car (i.e. for other energy storages)," says project owner, Christer Farstad. "This requires a global research and development effort and a partnership among EV pioneers.
"DNV has joined the ZEM alliance because we believe the electrification of the car industry will require parties that are able to build trust between car and battery producers, electric utilities, financing institutions and, ultimately, end users," Business Assurance COO, Bjørn K. Haugland said at the launch event.
