Title: How to strategically position European SMEs as part of an electric vehicle technology value chain

Authors: Fatih Mehmet Özel; Huw C. Davies; Christian-Simon Ernst; Paul Nieuwenhuis

Addresses: School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK ' School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK ' Institute for Automotive Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Steinbachstr. 7, 52064 Aachen, Germany ' Centre for Automotive Industry Research & Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence, Logistics and Operations Management, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Colum Drive, Cardiff CF10 3EU, Wales, UK

Abstract: European policy aims for a clean transport sector for improving the competitiveness of the automotive industry. By supporting small and medium enterprise (SME) development, European Union (EU) can achieve both economic growth and emission reduction targets. It is expected that there will be changes in the established relationships within the automotive supply chain in moving from internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric vehicles (EVs), and SMEs that are more capable of developing those technologies might have a role in the possible EV based automotive value chain re-shaping. The "European Network on Electric Vehicles and Transferring Expertise" (ENEVATE) partnership conducted a series of interviews with SMEs throughout North-West Europe to investigate support areas that SMEs need to have to play a role in this possible EV based automotive value chain re-shaping. It was found that SMEs needed more support for protecting technology, establishing relationships and funding investments.

Keywords: Europe; financial instruments; small and medium-sized enterprises; electric vehicles; EVs; automotive supply chains; SME support; automotive SMEs; European Union; EU; automotive value chain; electric vehicle technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEHV.2014.065728

International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, 2014 Vol.6 No.3, pp.227 - 254

Received: 20 May 2014
Accepted: 09 Jul 2014
Published online: 11 Nov 2014 *

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