FIM Alternative Energies

FIM 2012 Dinner-Debate at the European Parliament

On 27 November, the FIM organised a Dinner-Debate at the European Parliament in Brussels to present the work of the FIM in the field of Alternative Energies and to stress the need for supportive EU legislation for clean motorcycling.

Welcomed by the Dutch Member of the European Parliament Mr Wim van de Camp, the dinner was attended by representatives of European States, Members of European Parliament and European Commission Officials, representatives from ACEM (the Association of Motorcycles Manufacturers), members of the FIM Alternative Energy Working Group, as well as other stakeholders from the motorcycling community and clean technology companies.

An exhibition displaying two sustainable powered two-wheelers: Suzuki Fuel Cell Burgman and Piaggio Mp3 Hybrid 300ie underlined the existence of ready-to-use technologies.

Speeches from the FIM’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Stéphane Desprez, Mr Olivier Onidi and Mr Frédéric Sgarbi from the European Commission as well as Mr Mario Santucci, Responsible for Vehicle Innovation at Piaggio Group, underlined the advantages of motorcycles in the face of the current issues regarding transportation in major cities, the improvements of clean technologies used in motorcycling and the need for a more supportive EU legislation.

The Director for “Innovative and Sustainable Mobility” at DG MOVE, Mr Olivier Onidi outlined that future EU legislation and actions will be designed to include powered two-wheelers and support the emergence of new technologies in motorcycling.

Stéphane Desprez explained how motorcycling sport is acting as a driver for innovation as well as the best testing platform for innovation with initiatives such as the ePower Championship, the first FIM international championship for motorcycles propelled by electric power only.

Mr Mario Santucci detailed the inclusive strategy of his firm Piaggio, Italian manufacturer of motorcycles, and its perspectives in terms of R&D. Mr Frédéric Sgarbi, Head of Sector at DG Research, highlighted the inclusion of powered two-wheelers in the future Green Vehicles Initiative in Horizon 2020 framework.

The dinner was followed by a lively debate, focusing on the ongoing need for political support, infrastructure development and incentives to encourage the industry and consumers to go green.

“Today the motorcycle is the ideal vehicle to prove new technologies and test new sources of energy. Increasingly, policy makers and the public are looking to motorsport, and motorcycling specifically, as a testing ground for these new technologies. Motorcycles provide an easily adapted platform of modestly simple design that lends itself well to utilizing many different forms of alternative energy!”

– FIM CEO Stéphane Desprez

Original Source – FIM – Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme – Click Here

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