歐盟、美國和日本11月中旬在日內瓦新簽署一份非正式協議，可望加速推廣全球電動汽車的普及化。根據協議，簽約方將合力推動全球的電動車管理法規同軌化，預期可因此透過市場經濟降低車廠的成本。
目前汽車製造商在全球各個不同地區生產少量的電動車，但越來越多的製造商將他們的車子銷售到國外市場，因此，從汽車產業復甦與製造成本的脈絡來看，此舉是非常關鍵的一步。
由於大西洋地區和亞洲地區分別制定了各自的電動汽車技術法規，此項合作協議，是讓各方法規趨向統合的絕佳機會。
歐盟執委會負責工商業事務的副主席塔亞尼（Antonio Tajani）表示：「這是電動車發展的一大步。這個法規合作協定可讓嶄新的電動車科技更具市場潛力與競爭力，促成更永續的交通運輸。」
根據這項合作協議，會在聯合國1998年建立的「全球技術法規協議」（Agreement on Global Technical Regulations）之下再成立兩個非正式的工作小組。在1998年的協議架構下，已有一套程序讓各國能共同為汽車與零配件制訂國際技術法規。
該協議目前有32個簽約成員，其中包括中國、歐盟、印度、日本、南韓和美國。新合作協議的參與成員分別有歐盟執委會、美國國家公路局、美國環保署和日本國土交通省。
這兩個工作小組開放給所有聯合國相關協議的簽約方參與，包括印度和中國。第一個工作組將處理電動車安全及電池等零組件，業務範圍包括電動車行駛間、充電時、意外發生後，預防駕駛人觸電的安全問題。第二個工作組則會著重在電動車的環境法規。
這兩個小組的目標，是交換電動車領域中目前及未來的法規規範，藉以避免規範中有不必要的差異，並且在可行的地方，依國際技術法規的模式來發展共同的技術規範。
此次簽約的場合──「世界車輛法規協調論壇」（World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations），也稱為Working Party 29，是由聯合國歐洲經濟委員會運作，常設於日內瓦。該論壇負責訂定車輛法規，包含汽車和其他車輛的安全和環境標準。其宗旨是要提倡技術法規全球同軌，以減少技術發展的花費、避免重複的管理程序，進而促進經濟效率，為消費者和社會降低成本。
至於1998年的國際技術法規協議，則建立了一道程序讓世界所有的國家可以一同為車輛和其零組件訂定國際技術法規，可說是1958年「電動車工業國際技術協調協議」的補強版本。
The global introduction of electric cars is expected to accelerate with a new informal agreement signed by the European Union, the United States and Japan in Geneva last week.
The partners agreed to cooperate on harmonizing regulatory obligations related to electric vehicles in the global context. This is expected to lead to cost savings through economies of scale for automotive manufacturers.
Currently automakers produce relatively small volumes of electric vehicles in different world regions. But increasingly, automakers are selling their products into markets far from home. The agreement is seen as key in the context of economic recovery and general cost-sensitiveness of the industry.
Because the rules for electro-mobility technologies are currently being developed on both sides of the Atlantic and in Asia, the cooperation offers a unique opportunity to develop common approaches.
"This is a crucial step towards the development and reach out of electric cars," said European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, who is responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship.
"The regulatory cooperation agreement will help to increase the market potential for this important breakthrough technology, contributing for competitiveness and a more sustainable road transport," Tajani said.
Under the proposed cooperating agreement, two informal working groups on electric vehicles will be set up under the United Nations' 1998 Agreement on Global Technical Regulations. This 1998 agreement establishes a process through which countries can jointly develop global technical regulations for vehicles and their components.
Currently, there are 32 Contracting Parties to the 1998 Agreement, including China, European Union, India, Japan, South Korea and the United States.
The initiative on the new cooperating agreement was taken by the European Commission; the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
The working groups are open to all countries that are contracting parties to the relevant UN Agreement, including India and China. The first working group will address the safety aspects of electric vehicles and their components, including the battery. It will cover the safety of occupants against electric shocks during use and while recharging, as well as after an accident.
The second group will focus on environmental aspects of regulations as applied to electric vehicles.
The aim of both groups is to exchange information on current and future regulatory initiatives in this field, to avoid unnecessary differences between regulatory approaches and, where possible, develop common requirements in the form of a Global Technical Regulation.
The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, also known as Working Party 29, operates under the UN Economic Commission for Europe, located in Geneva. It defines vehicle regulations, covering safety and environmental requirements for cars and other vehicles.
The aim of the forum is to promote harmonized technical requirements which reduce development costs and avoid duplication of administrative procedures for industry and so contribute to economic efficiency and lower costs for consumers and society.
The 1998 Agreement on Global Technical Regulations establishes a process through which countries from all regions of the world can jointly develop global technical regulations for vehicles and their components. It is complementary to an agreement signed in 1958 on international technical harmonization in the motor vehicle sector.
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