Factors affecting the electric vehicle demonstration: 14 international cities/regions cases

As an effective way to deal with the global energy crisis and environmental pollution, countries around the world interested in the development of electric vehicles. This paper describes a study of 14 selected international cities/regions - New York, Los Angeles, Portland, Kanagawa, Rotterdam, North Brabant, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg, northeast England, Helsinki and Stockholm - that have been successful in promoting the use of electric vehicles. This paper summarizes some basic data, policies actors, and innovative activities as the factors affecting the electric vehicle development in the 14 cities/regions and discusses the overall affecting results of the use of electric vehicles in these cities/regions. Based on the correlation analysis on some key indicators the study analyzes the promotion policies of the cities/regions from four perspectives: (1) strategy and investment, (2) subsidy and tax policy, (3) regulation and standards, and (4) specialized agencies. This paper provides further analysis on demonstration projects and innovative activities in these four areas, as well as infrastructure development, project integration, and public awareness. The paper concludes with an analysis of the commonalities among the cities/regions on their policies and innovations and their experiences with electric vehicle innovation.