The test scheme is to generate new specific and practical experience with electric cars and the required infrastructure. The test scheme may also help shed light on the opportunities for integrating electric cars as a flexible storage facility into the Danish electricity system, and this may both help optimize energy exploitation and help adapt the system to the fluctuating wind power.

Apart from the fact that battery-powered electric cars can exploit renewable energy, they also have a very high energy efficiency so they can further reduce CO2 emissions. Electric cars also contribute to improving the urban environment with less noise and no harmful emissions into the air.

The test scheme is to help illustrate the barriers to the spread of electric cars in practice, as well as illustrate the applications where electric cars have particular advantages or perspectives. Finally, the test scheme is to provide knowledge about the technical, organisational, economic and environmental factors associated with using, operating and maintaining electric cars. The initiative will include a number of practical tests as well as elucidation work and analyses.

The test scheme will be administered as an open subsidy scheme, and all relevant actors can submit applications.

The tests are expected to be completed by larger fleet owners with fleets primarily composed of smaller vehicles, vehicles which are not used for great distances, as well as vehicles with a pattern of use which enables recharging.

Funds will be used to support the additional costs incurred by fleet owners in acquiring electric cars and recharging stations etc. as well as consultancy fees for analysis, monitoring, documentation and general knowledge-building.

The first round of applications has been completed and the Danish Energy Agency, which administers the subsidy scheme, has granted subsidies of DKK 10 mill. to 17 projects. The projects include a total of 44 electric vehicles, including cars, vans, minibuses, and lorries. Subsidies have been granted to two regional authorities, six municipalities, five private enterprises, two organisations/associations and one knowledge institution (two projects).

The next call for project proposals for the test scheme is expected to be later in 2009.