23|03|2011

Xero to Manufacture Electric Vehicles in Galicia

Xero Electric Vehicles, a British company specialized in electric vehicles, is to start production of electric cars in the Business Park in the municipality of Melón in the province of Orense (Galicia) in 2012.

The project is part of the Impulsa Plan promoted by the Orense Institute for Economic Development. Xero Electric Vehicles already has a prototype of the X-EV electric vehicle with a range of 200 kilometers and the factory will be up to full capacity in 2012, with annual production of 20,000 electric cars and the creation of a thousand jobs.

The company is pioneering the manufacture of electric vehicles with a range of 200 kilometers in Europe, which it will launch onto the market at a very competitive price. Its establishment in the province will lead to the creation of more than a thousand jobs. The new electric vehicle will be placed on the market in 2012 at a price of 18,000 euros plus VAT. Its arrival in Orense is backed by Xero’s successful business producing and selling electric scooters, bicycles and skateboards.

An estimated investment of 26 million euros is to be made, added to another 11 million being provided in subsidies from the regional government.

The prototype of the vehicle is ready for immediate manufacture in a provisional building in the Technology Park of Galicia, the idea being to reach full capacity in 2012.

Electric vehicles run on lithium batteries do not emit CO2 and do not cause harm to the environment, provided the electricity comes from renewable sources, such as wind, photovoltaic solar and thermal solar energy. Wind turbines can supply electric vehicles, which in the future will be able to store and regulate intermittent electricity supply from the wind sector.