- Market Set to Unveil its Potential by 2014-2015 with Backing of Full-scale Government Incentives and Significantly Reduced EV Prices

LONDON, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric vehicle (EV) sales in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), a region with a population of over 100 million people and a solid macroeconomic environment, are anticipated to cross the 60,000 mark by 2017 and witness even stronger growth post 2017, generating revenue opportunities for existing and new market participants in the e-mobility area.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.automotive.frost.com), 360 Degree Perspective Of The Central And Eastern European Electric Vehicle Industry, finds that  the industry is expected to reach unit shipments of around 62,000 units by 2017, increasing from approximately 245 unit shipments in 2011 due to increasing demand for convenient, eco-efficient and sustainable mobility solutions predominantly in dynamically developing urban areas as well as due to anticipated optimisation of the supply chain and, therefore, substantial EV cost reductions.

"Rising personal incomes, the process of urban sprawl and changing mobility preferences in CEE are fuelling the demand for new sustainable solutions in personal mobility," notes Frost  & Sullivan Senior Consultant Vitaly Belskiy. "This will catalyse the development of the EV market until 2017."

Pragmatic enthusiasm is set to be the dominant approach as customers and market participants seek convenient urban mobility solutions which can support cost- effective total cost of ownership over the lifecycle of vehicles, both for private as well as business customers. However, there is still a 35-40 per cent price reduction potential which can be achieved in 2-3 years when it comes to battery technology, which means cost factors will diminish in impact on the industry's development.

Frost & Sullivan estimates the EV market to grow at a phenomenal 151 per cent over 2011-2017. The highest growth is expected after 2014-2015 assuming full-scale government incentives – including CO2-based taxation of new vehicles and the ability to use bus lanes which is expected to appeal specifically to corporate fleets – are in place in most countries across CEE.

However, the lack of government support (especially soft incentives, such as the ability to use bus lanes and free parking) in the short-term is expected to restrain industry growth potential. Financial subsidies are not expected to have a strong direct impact on the industry, yet appear to be necessary in order to catalyse its development at the initial stage.

"When it comes to long-term development of charging infrastructure for EVs, CEE will have to face similar challenges to Western European countries – safety of charging process, network management and financial transactions services, among others," cautions Belskiy. "However, setting up a charging infrastructure in CEE in residential areas, where most charging is likely to be done, will require specific solutions, and only around 7 per cent of CEE's population lives in houses, where garage charging could be an option."

This challenge will increase its impact in the medium- to long-term as EVs are expected to start penetrating the middle class segment. To overcome this challenge, charging station suppliers and operators will have to provide advanced solutions with such functions as advanced load metering and control, if multiple users are connected to the charging station.

"The key challenge will be optimising costs of the charging stations manufacturing, installation and operation in order to avoid transferring high costs onto the customer, which would negatively impact the demand," concludes Belskiy.

If you are interested in more information on Frost & Sullivan's study 360 Degree Perspective Of The Central And Eastern European Electric Vehicle Industry, please send an e-mail with your contact details to Katja Feick, Corporate Communications, at katja.feick@frost.com.

Urban Mobility 3.0
Electric Vehicles will be at the heart of Frost & Sullivan's upcoming annual industry event 'Urban Mobility 3.0: OEMs New Mobility Offerings and New Business Models Linking Web 2.0', taking place on 13th and 14th June 2012 in London. Debate, discuss and provide recommendations to the industry on new urban mobility models and how this trend can provide opportunities for government, public sector and corporations to align their future mobility vision, products and services toward customers' unmet needs. The workshop will also debate and discuss the role of public transport, specifically bus and rail, and electric vehicles as a sustainable transport of now and the future. For more information, visit: www.gil-global.com/urbanmobility

360 Degree Perspective Of The Central And Eastern European Electric Vehicle Industry is part of the Automotive & Transportation Growth Partnership Service programme, which also includes research in the following markets:  360-degree Perspective of the Global Electric Vehicle Market—2012 Edition, Strategic Analysis of Electric Motor Technologies for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles in Europe and 360 Degree Analysis of Electric Vehicle Market in Turkey. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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360 Degree Perspective of the Central and Eastern European Electric Vehicle Industry (M798-18)

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Katja Feick
Corporate Communications – Europe
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E: katja.feick@frost.com 
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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan