Schneider Electric: Wind energy and electric cars are the main development opportunities

Schneider Electric Romania, local subsidiary of French group Schneider, which specialises in delivery of energy equipment and services, says that apart from the drive to cut utility bills through energy-efficient products, another two markets provide good growth opportunities in the long run: wind farms and electric cars. Whilst 2010 could see a boom in wind power projects, talks on the future of electric cars are in the early stages in Romania.

"Electricite de France (one of the biggest European energy groups, a global leader of nuclear energy i.e.), alongside Schneider Electric and Renault, is currently working on developing the fuelling system for electric cars. The idea is to have a common European standard and we have already installed such a system for fuelling electric cars in the East of France. If the cost of developing technology for electric cars is good, consumers will accept it. We expect to develop on the electric cars market, especially given the interest that the Bucharest government has shown in the technology," says Marc Coroler, vice-president of Schneider Electric for Central and Eastern Europe.

The Romanian Government decided last month to set up an interministerial think tank in order to establish a strategy to encourage manufacturing of electric cars in Romania.