Restriction in Debeljača – production of electric cars in Serbia under question mark

Our country's great development opportunity - production of electric cars - is now under question mark. The project called "Towards the Future" was started in 2007 with the financial support from the Executive Council of Vojvodina and Municipality of Kovačica, and the team of "Globus Auto", which is the project holder, has developed two prototypes of electric cars. However, due to the global economic crisis, realization of the project, which is long-term market sustainable, profitable and export-oriented, has been stopped because there is no money for mass production.

- Global crisis has seriously hit our country. Although we were promised financial support for construction of the factory, realization of the project was discontinued because of the crisis. The banks have set stricter terms for approval of loans to local economy sector, so that we are now unable to continue realization of this, very important project – Stanko Kovačević, the CEO of company "Globus Auto", which is the initiator of the project, told "eKapija".

Kovačević points out that it would be a pity if such exceptional idea was forgotten because that project can produce several export brands – electric passenger automobile, special electric cab, electric minibus, as well as large electric city buses with 90% of locally produced parts.

Stanko Kovačević (Photo: ekapija.com)

He sees the only chance for further development of this project in treating production of electric cars as the government's development project, which means that the state would become the owner of certain share of capital.

- Between 10 and 30m EUR is needed for construction of the factory in Debeljača, and that money can be provided from the republic funds. In return, the state would get the ownership share, and it would control the business until that money is returned – Kovačević explains and adds that, according to the plan, the units for production of about 20,000 electric vehicles per year should be built in the location at 11 ha.

Our collocutor says that the advantages of the use of electric automobiles are numerous, the most important of which are - environment protection and saving of money.

Introduction of electric cars helps general struggle for reduction of air, land and water pollution from exhaust gases, reduction of noise pollution, and it also contributes to energy efficiency and use of locally produced electric energy, especially the energy produced by means of wind-solar generators.

- The World Health Organization and the Health Committee of Great Britain have presented the information that the money that is taken from the public city transportation companies in large cities for health care of citizens because of air pollution amounts to 0.2-1.2 EUR per kilometer passed by bus, which means that "Lasta" and the City Transportation Company "Beograd" could buy few hundred buses for that money. The city of Belgrade should work on resolving that problem, and possible solution is replacement of current buses with electric ones – says Mr. Kovačević.

In addition, California, New Zealend and China are paying great amount of money to both manufacturers and buyers of electric automobiles. China, as a large manufacturer of electric cars, grants 6,000 EUR to every person who buys an electric vehicle.

- Great Britain has set aside 450m GBP for the buyers of electric cars in that country. The center of London can be accessed only by electric vehicles whose owners park their cars and charge the batteries for free.

Speaking of employment, he points out that electric cars should also be used by taxi companies in Belgrade because 8,000 drivers would use 4,000 vehicles, and there would also be plenty of work for people at the stations for supply of vehicles with electric energy, and in electric car repair workshops.

From the economic point of view, the use of electric cars and their maintenance is 8 to 10 times cheaper.

Development opportunities in Republic of Srpska and the region

Stanko Kovačević points out that Chinese companies are very interested in investing in our country. He says that he brought 5 letters of intent from the trade fair in Shangai, and that the Chinese expressed interest in building factories for production of automobiles, buses, and lithium-ionic batteries in Serbia, and all offers are related to production of electric cars.

- Republic of Srpska would like us to start mass production in that country. Chinese investors will have the meeting with the representatives of the Government of RS at the beginning of September – the CEO of "Globus Auto" points out.

Development of electric cars has also begun in Croatia, and Zagreb-based company is willing to establish cooperation with Serbian "Globus Auto".

Stanko Kovačević says that "Globus Auto" is interested in any kind of partnership, as well as in cooperation with investors and investment funds that would contribute to realization of this great project.