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Eko Banga (Eco Wave in Lithuanian) is a socio-economical project/ movement carrying out its activities for two years already. Its members have formed a space for developing eco community focused in one place. Eko Banga is an eco hub/ incubator, which is an excellent environment for eco businesses to develop and where you can find everything in complex related to ecology for all age groups. At the moment it has done significant work in various fields: ecological education – free lectures about the ecology, the environment and a healthy lifestyle, implementation of eco ideas, development of eco businesses, expansion and introduction of these ideas to the market. Eko Banga has made lots of contacts with international eco networks, combining general concepts with foreign partners in eco technology, tourism, distribution of eco friendly products. Eko Banga has more than 100 partners in Lithuania and around 30 abroad.

Having such an experience Eko Banga has grown to the next step and is moving on from creating an environment for eco businesses to developing specific eco friendly industries, by creating so called clusters. The main task of a cluster is to adapt an existing business or start a new one in accordance to the principles of “deep ecology”. Deep ecology means human behavior more consistent with what science tells us is necessary for the well-being of life on Earth. A person must live in a harmonious environment that is healthy physically, socially and psychologically.

Eko Banga has started the development of an eco technology cluster, called ‘Eco Wave’. The main directions of activities will be research, development of eco vehicles, nitrate rod – a personal measurement device that allows assessing your level of contamination of food at any time.

There were several events that prompted Eko Banga to develop such an eco technology cluster. The first one was in May 2010 when Lithuanian team visited Norway. One of the group members – Egle Januskeviciute, a founder of market place of ecological culture in Uzupis Republic[1] in Vilnius, a developer of Eco Wave, promoter of “green” ideas, creator of different eco projects in Lithuania. She got acquainted with the Norwegian representative of the green movement – Hanna Marcussen. Both Norwegian and Lithuanian Green Movement members met in Auto Show, where new electric cars were exhibited. Two attractive models – ‘Buddy’ and ‘THINK City’ are fully using an electric motor for propulsion, which is environmentally friendly and does not pollute nature. It may be both processed and reutilized. Those electric cars have inspired our two “green” women to cooperate for collective activity and promote usage of electric cars in Lithuania and Norway on the basis of “deep ecology” ideas: such cars could become an excellent way to an ecological lifestyle - when you get into a habit of shopping in eco-markets, you can also get used to recharging your electric car battery at night like you would do with your mobile phone. Norwegian and Lithuanian cooperation in this field is an excellent example of forming a transparent international ecological business, at the same time raising people’s consciousness regarding “deep ecology” and saving environment.

Lithuania has a high potential for electric production. Company named JonElis is already creating electric car technologies, producing electric car engines. Their car is based on Ford Connect model. Ford’s body is changed and most of original parts are either changed or strongly modified. Instead of standard engine electric car is equipped with an electric, three-phase motor. Manufacturers claim that driver will spend about 8 Lt (~2 euros) for about 100 km distance (www.jonelis.eu).

Another success story in Lithuania is an electric car ‘3E’. It is a manufactured Honda HR-V made in 1999, which was converted to only electric powered car. This is a personal electric car whose owner states that while generating 3E there was created an electric control unit EVMS (Electric Vehicle Management System) that has significant potential to be used for rapid conversion of other electric cars. It ensures reliable performance and their extensive features (www.emobilis.lt).

After the Conference on electric cars in Lithuania, Eco Wave has felt more ensured that the formation of their cluster has a high potential. Eligijus Masiulis, the Minister of Transport and Communication, had introduced all the prospects of electric car development in Lithuania. According to him, Lithuania at this point in time is like a “white sheet” regarding electric car manufacturing, since there are no strong players in the market. Therefore government can offer favorable conditions to potential investors entering the market, giving opportunity to become market leaders. Another advantage of Lithuania is relatively inexpensive and very qualified work force.

Dainius Kreivys, the Minister of Economy, said that electric cars are technological turning point, which can bring success to Lithuania. Representatives of other ministries and government are optimistic and believe that developments in this area will bring substantial benefits to various economical sectors. However, this and other future “deep ecology” projects require close cooperation between government, non-governmental institutions, business representatives and academics, which would be coordinated with the help of Eco Wave.

Members of the conference approved a declaration, which proposes for scientists and businesmen with the help of govenment institutions to do a complex analysis of electric car development in Lithuania, form policy guidlines in this sphere, evaluate the posibilities to economicaly stimulate the purchase and expluatation of electric cars, popularise use of electric cars and other energy effective transport.
At this moment Eco Wave, together with its partners have already begun to found eco cluster, developing its strategies and policies. The main development and production is planned to be set up in the industrial town of Visaginas. Once upon a time an ecological disaster, it has since the end of 2009 closed its nuclear power plant. As a result several thousands of highly educated, technical, professional workforce are currently unemployed.

According to various research data, by year 2020 electric automobiles and their hybrids will make up 10% of all the world‘s vehicles. In 2015 there would be around 3,1 mln. cars driving the world‘s roads, and to take care of them up to 4,7 mln. charging stations will be set up.
Lithuanian and Norvegian “greens” have a great potential to work together, accumulating social and eco business ideas and implementing them in real life. Norwegians giving their input with know-how and Lithuanians offering their physical and emotionally and mentally positively charged work force. Green economy and eco businesses take into consideration the widest possible range of values, including survivability, sustainability, a sense of community, a comprehensive appreciation of social and environmental justice between people, and with non human species, the planet and the biosphere.

Everyone, who wants to join with ideas and proposals of how to make Europe greener, cleaner, safer and nicer place to live, to make their input economically, technically, professionally are welcome to join Eco Wave cluster.