One Million Electric cars by 2020 in Germany

Germany on Wednesday launched a campaign to put one million electric cars on the streets for 2020.

Germany on Wednesday launched a campaign to put one million electric cars on the streets by 2020, giving priority to research on batteries to make the country a leader in this field.

The program, funded with 500 million euros (705 million U.S. dollars) from extraordinary expenses of a plan approved earlier this year, leaving many details of the next government funding and has been criticized for its extreme vagueness.

Our intention is to make Germany a leader in the market for electric mobility,

said Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, after the cabinet approved the plan.

He added that the goal of one million vehicles for 2020

is an ambitious goal, but we believe can be achieved.

The government intends to spend 115 million euros (162 million U.S. dollars) in eight regions of evidence in order to adopt the best way of putting into circulation of vehicles.

In addition, earmarked 170 million euros (about $ 240 million) in research and development of batteries that can drive electric cars, giving priority to domestic production and ensuring that the Germans are specialists trained in this technology.

It is important that liguemos the decreasing dependence on imported crude oil suddenly does not depend on imported batteries,
Said Guttenberg.

The plan envisages the use of electric vehicles in the market from 2012, but does not specify whether it will be offered incentives to potential buyers or what. Guttenberg said will be considered a marketing plan and its financing depends on the next government.

Germans go to the polls on September 27 and the next government will contain one of two partners in the "grand coalition" led by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The opposition parties endorsed the plan but criticized its lack of details and funding