Spain and Portugal announce joint green car initiative
Tue 22 January 2008
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Portugal and Spain plan to cooperate to build greener, low carbon cars in Iberia. Through the joint initiative, the two countries hope to generate 150 million euros worth of investment and 800 new jobs in the region's struggling motor industry.
Spain’s Minister for Industry Joan Clos announced the two countries aim to build an alternative to the higher emitting vehicles currently on the roads of Spain and Portugal. The "green" car, which could be powered by hydrogen fuel cells or electricity, is being developed by two automotive research centres in Portugal and Spain using funds from both the public and private sectors.
Officials said they hope to produce a prototype by the end of this year. The car's engine was likely to run on hydrogen fuel cells but an electric engine is also being considered. "Our goal is to create an environmentally friendly car that can be produced with technology from Portugal and Spain," a spokesman said. The cost of the new car to consumers is yet to be determined. "We are involving the private sector to take on the challenge of producing the car in the long-run and sell it to consumers".
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