Report: U.S. and EU close to establishing joint standards for plug-in vehicles

The U.S. and the European Union are close to establishing joint standards for plug-in vehicles, according to Automotive News (sub. req.). During a speech in Washington, D.C. today, European Union trade commissioner, Karel De Gucht, stated:

The EU and the U.S. are about to agree to an ambitious work plan aiming at aligning regulatory issues, standards and research.

De Gucht, who came to Washington to meet with U.S. trade representative Ron Kirk, administration officials and business execs, didn't elaborate on the almost-agreed-upon standards, but did say that with joint rules in place, the U.S. and European Union will, "avoid moving into different directions and risk creating new market barriers."

Word is that an official announcement regarding the agreed upon standards could come when De Gucht returns to the White House later this year. This is, without a doubt, a move that will foster the development of plug-in vehicles.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]