A network of 1300 charging stations for electric vehicles will be ready by the end of 2011 and incentives for the purchase of vehicles for individuals and companies are the outlines of an law-decree on the electrical mobility which was adopted today by the Portuguese Government Cabinet.
The Portuguese Government wants to have by the end of 2011 a network of 1300 stations charging electric vehicles and more than 25 "fast-loading stations" in 25 cities. For purchases of electric vehicles, the incentives for individuals are the exemption from vehicle tax and a grant of five thousand euros (for the five thousand units sold until the end of 2010), then adding more 1500 euros in case of an old-automobile is given in exchange for recycling.
For companies, the government plans to give fiscal benefits in Corporate Income Tax (IRC) for the purchase of electric fleet vehicles. The Public Administration,is required to bear 20 percent of electric vehicles in fleet, from 2011 onwards.
"Betting on electrical mobility is to bet on reducing CO2 emissions and the sustainability of the energy model," said the Economy Minister, Vieira da Silva at the end of the Council of Ministers.
The network of charging stations will be managed by the National Electrical Distribution Co. - a company which has not yet been created - and which vendors can participate with a share of the capital not exceeding five percent. The company will have to be made by March 2010.
According to estimates by Vieira da Silva, users of electric vehicles will be able to save one-third the cost compared to car usage dependent on fossil fuels like gas or diesel.
The pilot phase of the project supply chain ends in 2011. "From there we hope to generalize to the entire Portuguese territory and make electric cars a competitive option for urban mobility", said the Minister of Economy.
The Portuguese electric car charging system, which is branded under the trademark MobiE is also the only nation wide system to be based on open standards, so that any car maker can use it, thus preventing vendor deadlock schemes.
Adapted from Publico.
