Reducing vehicle emissions is a main concern for automotive manufacturers in Europe and other parts of the world. The perfect fit to the future clean energy concepts is: all the emission is handled in the energy generating site (power plant) and there is emission free consumption by vehicles with electrical propulsion. The zero emission capability of the electrical vehicle and replacing coal in the energy mix by using renewable energy sources is a challenging environmental task for the present as well as future generations. This will strongly support the Kyoto protocol to reduce the CO₂ levels by 20-30 % until 2020. In addition, the new electrical vehicles will offer the ideal buffer capability for energy storage to backup wind power plants in terms of power grid stability. 

Today most automotive manufacturers are increasing their efforts to eliminate exhaust emissions and they are promising to bring an electric model to market in the next 4 to 10 years. 

The most severe concerns for electrical vehicles are the mileage and the operating range. The E³Car project will address these concerns by using a holistic approach in developing the semiconductor technologies, devices, circuits and sub systems needed to increase power and energy efficiency.  

The E³Car project aims to increase energy efficiency in the mobility of more than 35% compared with the existing technologies. This will have as effect a significant primary energy saving, a relavant raw-material saving, and a drasical reduction of CO₂ levels up to a true zero emission mobility by enabling the utilization of solar energy for the majority of daily duty.  

The electrical vehicles technologies are currently facing several challenges amongst which are: limited driving range, high cost and overall limited efficiency. For the most part of these issues, solutions may be found on the level of the subsystems for energy storage/battery technology, power conversion, electric power train, energy management and connection to the power grid.