In 1973, Icpe laid the foundations of the first Romanian research in the field of electric mobility in history. At the Institute of electrotechnical research (Icpe.ro) is founded the first team that would develop electric mobility at national level. A project with such interesting achievements that it was documented by the BBC (Bicicleta electrică – O inventie românească – YouTube).
In the team formed at Icpe they carry out their activity and there are inventors who put Romania on the map of world research, among them we enumerate personalities like: Justin Capra (Justin Capră – Wikipedia), Sigismul Sleiher or Stelian Marinescu. After the 2000s, Icpe founded the “Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles in Romania” (AVER.ro), a non-profit organization that is immediately established as the first and only image vector of electric mobility at the national level. AVER, with the support of Icpe, the Polytechnic University of Bucharest and the other members involved, becomes in 2015 the only entity in Romania member in the “European Association for electromobility” (avere.org) and implicitly in the “World Electric Vehicle Association” (weva. org).
Icpe continued the persistent promotion of the electric vehicle inside AVER with a series of achievements for the first time for Romania. In 2002 he carried out a thermal-electric conversion on a Dacia Lăstun in which regenerative braking is implemented, a system used today by all series electric vehicles. In 2004, in collaboration with the national battery manufacturer Caranda, it carried out the thermal-electric conversion for a Dacia Solenza, being the first Romanian electric car with a range of over 150 km capable of driving on public roads. In 2006, a Mercedes Sprinter electric minibus was built with a battery mounted on an interchangeable drawer with a full one in just 30 minutes.
In 2008, Icpe built a catamaran with electric propulsion and power supply through solar panels for the Danube Delta biosphere reserve. A few years later, for the first time in Romania, the first thermal-electric conversion of a vintage Volkswagen Beetle 1968 car was made. An ecological solution for vintage cars whose spare parts are hard to find. Starting with 2001, Icpe and AVER organize the first scientific conference in Romania dedicated to electric mobility.
Reaching its 13th edition, the conference has become internationally recognized and enjoys the participation of over 300 national and international specialists in each edition (evshow.ro). On the 5th anniversary of the first steps in the field of electric mobility, Icpe paid homage by publishing the book “Electric and hybrid cars” (Automobile electrice și hibride – Editura Electra (editura-electra.ro)) representing a compendium of tutor achievements Romanian in connection with the electric vehicle.
