MUNICH, Germany — Along with partners in industry and research institutes, German car maker Audi will develop a system concept for an electrical car. The German government funds the research with €22 million (about $31 million).

The government plans to establish Germany as a lead market for electro-mobility. Electric cars are seen as a factor to reduce carbon dioxide emission and implement Germany's climate protection goals, explained German federal research minister Annette Schavan. The government hopes that by 2020 at least one million electric cars will populate the country's roads.

Audi's 'ePerformance' project focuses on powerful yet affordable batteries. In the ePerformance project, the company collaborates with the Bosch group as well as the RWTH Aachen Technical University, among other partners.

All in all, the German government funds electro-mobility with a total of €700 million in a variety of different projects.