EU set to launch electric car project: Zapatero

(STRASBOURG) - The European Union will launch a new project to support and harmonise the development of electric cars, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced Wednesday.

"The other day I met together with a group of companies... and it was considered fundamental that there should be cooperation and integration of efforts in developing the electric vehicle," said Zapatero, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency.

The EU presidency is organising a meeting of EU industry ministers in San Sebastian on February 8 to launch "a plan for an electric vehicle for the European Union," he told reporters in Strasbourg after talks with EU officials.

"It is fundamental that we should cooperate and integrate our efforts in developing the electric vehicle among all EU countries with the commission taking the lead," the Spanish PM added.

"If our markets don't have a regulatory framework to provide financial support, and we don't have common standards on the technologies, then it will be difficult for Europe to take a leading role," Zapatero insisted.

Meanhwhile China and Japan are fast developing electric vehicles with more effective batteries, he warned.