Brussels, 10/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - In Paris on Monday 10 January, Philippe de Fontaine Vive, European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President, and Vincent Bolloré, Chief Executive of the Bolloré Group, signed a €130 million finance contract to support the Group's research, development and innovation (RDI) programmes in the field of electricity storage (batteries and electric vehicles) and the activities of its subsidiary IER (self-service check-in, security controls, automatic identification). This is the first finance contract granted by the EIB to the Bolloré Group.
The loan has the twofold aim of financing the Bolloré Group's investment in developing electrical storage systems and optimising people flow management and security (IER). It will allow: - the development of a new generation of lithium metal polymer (LMP) batteries providing a driving range of more than 250 kilometres and ensuring the total safety of electric vehicles; this advanced technology developed by the Bolloré Group will be employed especially in fixed and mobile applications for future high-performance, environmentally friendly and totally silent electric vehicles producing no CO2 emissions; - IER's application of innovative technologies to automatic identification, registration and tracking in the check-in and security systems at airports and stations.
De Fontaine Vive said the EIB loan was “a practical example of the EIB's commitment to promoting RDI in France”. He added: “We are banking on advanced technologies to spearhead sustainable economic development, create jobs and foster high-level skills, all with a direct impact on people's daily lives.”
The car industry was a particular beneficiary of the EIB's backing for RDI in 2009 and 2010, following the crisis in the sector. The European Clean Transport Facility (ECTF) in particular led to substantial reduction of CO2 emissions by financing RDI throughout the sector. The EIB has lent €7.9 billion to the car industry under this facility since 2008. (Com-O.L./transl.rt)