Calls for more support to buy electric vehicles

The state must do more to assist the public in transitioning to electric vehicles, with an advisory body warning on Tuesday that the shift has to be fair and inclusive.

The Cyprus Economic and Competitiveness Council (Soak) warned that by 2035 all new vehicles sold in the EU must be zero emissions – meaning that there is no avoiding what is coming.

“It must be ensured that this transition is fair and inclusive, the public will be impacted when they must purchase these new vehicles and as such the government must find ways to provide the necessary support,” Soak said.

The body advised that further assistance or incentives could include: subsidising interest rates for ‘green’ vehicle loans, no road tax being applicable to those vehicles, reduce taxes for companies which use electric transport – or also provide charging points, dedicated parking spots for these vehicles, and bolster public transport.

Soak reiterated that the state has moved to promote electric vehicles – such as through the subsidy programme – but said more can and should be done.

Starting from 2035, as per the EU legislation, all new cars will be mandated to have no CO2 emissions. Additionally, by 2030, these vehicles will be required to achieve a 55 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the levels recorded in 2021.

According to the European Commission, passenger cars contribute approximately 12 per cent of the total CO2 emissions in the bloc, while vans account for around 2.5 per cent of these emissions. CO2 is recognised as the primary greenhouse gas.