The resolution is a formal response by the Parliament to the publication of the European Commission’s proposed strategy on clean and energy efficient vehicles.

MEPs have called on the Commission and member states to take joint action in a number of areas to encourage the take-up of electric and low carbon vehicles.

This includes the issue of standard chargers. MEPs urge support for research and innovation into batteries, with improvement of electric networks by introducing smart grids, stating that the aim should be a single electric vehicle market that avoids incompatible schemes or standards. It also calls on the Commission to strive for global standards wherever possible and for more EU support to innovation in this field.

The resolution also calls on the Commission to provide a comprehensive calculation of overall CO2 emissions of electric vehicles.

Finally, the resolution says that public service vehicle fleets should take the lead with EVs, adding that national governments and other authorities, including the EU institutions, could stimulate the demand by replace their public services fleet of combustion vehicles with electric vehicles, while the EU institutions should also roll out the infrastructure as soon as standards are in place.

The resolution was backed by six political groups and adopted by show of hands.