"Mrs. Merkel, you simply have to insert the card, push the plug into the socket and close the door. When the blue light goes on, the process is started and the battery is being charged!" With these words, Jürgen Großmann, RWE Chief Executive Officer, explained to the German Chancellor how an electric car is fuelled by an RWE charging point. Together with Dieter Zetsche, Daimler AG's CEO, Großmann had invited the Chancellor to the press conference in Berlin on Friday. There, the two companies presented the joint "e-mobility Berlin" project to journalists.

In two brief speeches, Zetsche and Großmann presented the key data concerning the intensive partnership between the automotive manufacturer and the energy company: The aim is for over 100 electric vehicles from smart and Mercedes-Benz to drive through the German capital from 2009 onwards. They will be driven by particularly high-performance rechargeable lithium ion batteries. To achieve this, RWE is installing around 500 charging stations throughout Berlin. Großmann explained to the numerous press representatives in attendance that mobile use of electrically operated vehicles will only really be possible in combination with a corresponding infrastructure. 

"E-mobility-Berlin" goes one step further

This also clearly reveals the special feature of "e-mobility Berlin": The advantages of battery-operated vehicles, e.g. quiet and clean operation, are already known. Daimler is already testing the operation of electric cars in London; there, however, is no extensive public charging infrastructure. The real deciding factor is the contribution which electric cars can make to the future reduction of CO₂ emissions. In contrast to combustion engines, electric cars do not emit any CO₂. This was also pointed out by the president of the Automotive Industry Association, Matthias Wissmann, during his presentation. He explained that electro-mobility should be taken very seriously as an alternative drivetrain system.

Valuable experience thanks to daily use

In particular, the planned operation of over 100 smart and Mercedes-Benz brand electric vehicles in the capital city is intended to provide practical information. The two companies want to answer questions such as "What exactly does full charging cost?", "How quickly can the rechargeable battery be recharged?" or "What is the ideal location for the charging stations?" together. To achieve this, the passenger cars will be offered with a leasing contract. To date, charging stations are planned in various public locations such as car parks and shopping centres so that the charging process can be carried out whilst the cars are parked for longer periods of time.
"The Federal Government supports the project", explained Merkel, when she approached the podium. The Chancellor revealed that she was thrilled at the two companies' plans to pool their know-how and therefore contribute towards achieving Germany's ambitious climate protection targets.