On 31 March 2011, Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Transport, arrived in an electric vehicle to Green eMotion kick-off event. The European Commission has kicked off a 4 year cross-European initiative to promote electromobility. The 42 partners in the initiative comprising industrial companies and automobile manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, universities, and technology and research institutions are to input exchange and expand their know-how and experience in selected regions within Europe.