Battery Rental System and Other Key Measures that Boost EV Sales in Mendrisio VEL2 Project

摘要

Alternative Fuel Vehicles (electric battery, hybrids and fuel cell) are hard to sell, mainly because of theirrncost structure. The VEL2 Project of Mendrisio, Switzerland, - funded mainly by Canton Ticino and thernSwiss Federal Office for Energy - implemented combined measures in its strategy in order to succeed inrnthe diffusion of these vehicles.rnSubsidies are the easiest way to adapt prices of Alternative Fuel Vehicles to acceptable market price.rnHowever it is important to set the right amount of the subsidy in order to avoid damaging the market.rnIn EVs, battery is an important component of the cost structure and can have a different lifecycle than thernvehicle. This is related to a risk that may be too high for the costumer. With a battery rental system bothrnissues are solved: the battery, being sold to the rental company, is virtually divided from the car that isrnsold to a costumer. The car owner uses the car and pays a monthly fee for the battery. The idea is alsorntransferable to fuel cell and other electrochemical devices.rnIn the process from car manufacturing to the effective sale, dealers play a key role. As a matter of fact, arnwell-prepared dealer can easily convince the customer for a particular vehicle of his choice. Therefore,rndealers have to be committed to sell Alternative Fuel Vehicles. Hence, working with "best performers"rn(meaning successful dealers) is the best way to enhance sales.rnOnly combining different measures as financial subsidies to lower prices, battery rental system to lowerrnprices and risks and the commitment of dealers through training and benefits, it is possible to create thernright background for successful diffusion of Alternative Fuel Vehicles.