Βασός Βασιλείου
Companies, Local Authorities, supermarkets, parking lot owners and other interested parties will be able to apply for the creation of 1,000 Vehicle Recharge Stations in a relatively short period of time and take part in the € 4 million pie that will be allocated for this purpose.
A government official we contacted, when asked by “Φ” “how is it ensured that some people will not rush to submit a large number of applications to take advantage not only of the sponsorship but also of the future need that will be created by increasing the number of electric vehicles” , said that obviously a roof will be set, so that no monopoly phenomena are observed.
Regarding the geographical distribution of the points, the same official stated that he understands that all the cities of Cyprus will be covered. Noting that in a city the number of points may be disproportionate in some areas, he said that this is an issue that will be addressed in due course and if it appears that this trend does exist, a uniform geographical distribution of points may be decided.
As for the cost of installing the points, he said that it obviously depends on how soon a vehicle can be charged, although as he said, for fast charging of vehicles for half – an hour, each point can cost the interested party between € 40,000 – € 70,000.
The same official said that before bids are announced, various stakeholders will be consulted, so that all positions and opinions can be heard, something that will help in making the most effective decisions.
The offers are expected to be announced between April – June. According to estimates by the Ministry of Transport, as expressed by the Minister of Transport, Giannis Karousos, by 2030, about 36,000 electric vehicles will be registered. According to him, until then, a national target is 25% of the total vehicle registrations to be related to electric vehicles. An increase of 50% per year will also be sought, so that by 2035 the vast majority of registered vehicles will be electric. The minister stated that after 2025, when there will be more mass production, the number of electric cars that will be circulating on the roads of Cyprus is expected to increase significantly.
One of the reasons that electric vehicles are promoted is due to the fact that 50% of the pollutants come from transport.
In addition to the € 4 million that will be allocated for the installation of 1,000 charging points, for the promotion of electric vehicles will be allocated through the Cyprus Recovery and Durability Plan and other actions, approximately € 30 million. Among others, the allocation of € 15 million is planned for the Old Polluted Vehicle Withdrawal Plan.
The Plans have an implementation horizon until the end of 2025 and are planned to be implemented in two phases. The first phase will end at the end of 2023 and the second at the end of 2025.
The total amount of the sponsorship approved within the framework of the Cyprus Recovery and Sustainability Plan and the plans that will follow amounts to € 30,000,000 for the Electric Vehicle Purchase Grant Scheme, € 15,000,000 for the Old Polluted Vehicle Withdrawal Scheme and € 4,000,000 for the creation of 1,000 Recharge Stations in publicly accessible areas.
The Pollution Vehicle Withdrawal Plan, in particular, stipulates that these must be saloon or van or double cab, registered in Cyprus for the last seven consecutive years and their construction date must be over twelve years.
Grant scheme for electric vehicles
The Electric Vehicle Purchase Grant Scheme for Phase A provides for a total amount of sponsorships of up to € 8 million and concerns the purchase of electric vehicles or the purchase of an electric bicycle (assisted cycling), in the form of an “ecological reward” for zero carbon dioxide vehicles (purely electric vehicles), with simultaneous optional, subsidized withdrawal of old vehicles.
The amounts that will be available for the purchase of a new electric vehicle range from € 9,000 (plus € 1,000 with the simultaneous withdrawal of an old vehicle), to € 19,000 (plus € 1,000 with the simultaneous withdrawal of an old vehicle). Specifically, for private vehicles will be provided a sponsorship of € 9,000 plus € 1,000 for simultaneous withdrawal, for taxis € 19,000 plus € 1,000 for simultaneous withdrawal, and for wheelchairs or vehicles with large families the grant will amount to € 11,000 plus € 1,000 for withdrawal of an old vehicle.
The amounts that will be allocated for the purpose of withdrawing an old vehicle and replacing it with a new vehicle range from € 7,500 to € 12,000.
Regarding the withdrawal of an old vehicle and its replacement with a new electric bicycle, the subsidy amounts to € 1,000, while for the withdrawal of an old vehicle in exchange for free tickets for use on regular bus lines, the subsidy will amount to € 750.
