Approved fund for partial renewal of official vehicle fleet
Fund for < strong>partial renewalof the fleet of official vehicles was approved by the Finance Committee of the Parliament on Monday, amounting to €1.66 million. Of the 60 official vehicles, they will be replaced the 35, with25 electric saloons, 5 electric SUVs and 5 plug-in hybrids.
Representative of the Electromechanical Servicehe said that by decision of the Council of Ministers pure electric vehicles are being procured, following the cancellation of a previous tender, with which only hybrids would be purchased. He noted that in addition to the switch to electric vehicles, the choice of smaller category vehicles was also decided. He also stated that based on the requirements of the legislation for the quota of vehicles procured by the Republic of Cyprus, one in three vehicles it purchases must be “clean”.
Questioned by DISY Member of Parliament, Onoufrios Koulas, regarding the purchase and maintenance costs, he said that the electric saloons cost €48,730 each, with maintenance costs for the first five years of €1,500. The cost of electric SUVs amounts to €44,000. A charger is included in the purchase price.
Responding to a question from DISY Member of Parliament, Haris Georgiadis about who the vehicles concern, he said that 35 official vehicles from 2006 to 2015, which have high maintenance costs, will be retired. Since the Ministers are using 2020 build vehicles, he said the practice is for the Ministers to get the new vehicles and theirs to be given to other officials.
Asked if there was interest in entering the competition , replied that three companies that met the specifications were interested and the award was made on the basis of the lowest price criterion. He said the 25 electric saloons are the VW ID7 model and the 5 SUVs the Toyota bZ4X. For the hybrids, the tender is still pending.
With the renewal of the fleet, vehicles manufactured from 2018 and beyond will remain in operation, he noted.
Questioned by AKEL Member of Parliament, Christos Christofidis regarding which officials are entitled to a vehicle, he said that for exclusive use the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Parliament, the Ministers, the Attorney General, the Assistant Attorney General, the President of the Supreme Court are entitled , the Auditor General, the First Lady, the Former Presidents of the Republic and Parliament, as well as the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Guard. In addition, for non-exclusive use the right of a vehicle is granted to the General Directors and Commissioners, noting that they are at the discretion of the executive to decide.
