The schemes, a step towards the transition to green transportation, were approved by cabinet this week.

The first scheme, with a €4 million budget, concerns the scrappage of cars older than 12 years and their replacement with new ones with lower emissions, or with electric bicycles or in exchange for bus tickets.

For the scrappage of an old car and its replacement with a new one that emits less than 50 grammes per kilometre of carbon dioxide, the subsidy is at €7,500. In total 360 subsidies will be given.

Those wishing to scrap an old car and purchase a taxi that emits less than 50g/km CO2 the subsidy is €12,000 (33 subsidies).

For the scrappage of an old car and purchase of a new one for disabled people emitting less than 50g/km CO2 the subsidy is €10,000 (20). The same applies for purchasing a car for large families (20).

Regarding the withdrawal of an old vehicle and its replacement with a new electric bicycle, the subsidy is at €1,000 (533), while for the withdrawal of an old vehicle in exchange for free tickets on regular bus lines the subsidy will amount to €750-worth of coupons (100).

The cars must not exceed €80,000 including VAT, while for bicycles, the ceiling was set at €6,000.

Applications for this scheme will be accepted between December 6 and 20. Priority will be given based on the age of the car slated for scrappage. Older ones will be given priority.

For the purchase of electric bicycles, applications will be accepted between January 17 and 31.

The cars slated for scrappage must have a valid road tax licence and be registered in Cyprus for the past consecutive seven years. In case a car has been immobilised, it must have a valid road tax licence within the last 18 months and not have a cancelled registration on the day the applications start.

The second scheme is in the form of an “eco-reward” for the purchase of zero-carbon emissions (purely electric) vehicles, including bicycles, with optional, subsidised scrappage of old vehicles, aged 12 years and over. The budget for this scheme is €8 million.

For the purchase of a new electric car, the subsidy is €9,000, and an additional €1,000 if applicants want to scrap an old vehicle. In total 360 subsidies will be given for this category.

For taxis, the amount is €19,000 plus €1,000 for the optional scrappage of an old car (24). For vehicles for disabled people (13) or large families (13), the amount is €11,000. The optional scrappage of an old car also applies here. The new vehicles must not exceed €80,000 inlcuding VAT.

The scheme also provides for the purchase of a used electric vehicle with a €4,000 subsidy plus €1,000 if applicants wish to scrap an old one. In total 320 subsidies will be given.

For used taxis the subsidy is €12,000 (25), while for the purchase of a used vehicle for disabled people (15) or large families (15), the amount is €7,000. An additional €1,000 will be given for the optional withdrawal of an old car.

This applies for vehicles that are not over €50,000 and were initially registered on January 1, 2019 or later.

The scheme also provides subsidies for the purchase of large electric buses (€100,000), small buses (€40,000), commercial vehicles (€20,000) and the purchase of electric mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, or lightweight four-wheel vehicles (€1,500).

Applications will be accepted between December 20 and January 3 on a first-come first-served basis.

According to Karousos, who said 50% of emissions come from transportation, these schemes aim to promote electric motoring and the introduction of more electric vehicles in the country but also vehicles with low carbon dioxide emissions.

On the benefits of electric vehicles, Karousos referred to low charging costs with a reduction of up to 64% in comparison with conventional fuel, free road tax licence, free parking in some municipal parking areas, low maintenance costs, and reduction of pollutants even in the way energy is produced today in Cyprus.

He said the goal is for electric cars to make up one fourth of newly registered vehicles by 2030 with a gradual rise of these numbers so that almost all of new registrations by 2035 concern electric vehicles.

For more information and applications: www.ev.gov.cy

Source: Cyprus Mail