Marta Guerreiro says tender for operation of 26 fast charging stations is major step towards electric mobility
The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism announced today the opening of the tender for the concession and operation of 26 fast charging stations on all islands of the Azores. According to her, this is a major step towards electric mobility in the archipelago.
"Today, we are living up to the importance that the Government attaches to electric mobility. In the first phase, we will create a public network of charging stations in all municipalities of the archipelago with the aim of providing electric vehicle users with greater comfort and safety in several routes. Hence, we will meet immediate and urging needs in terms of charging stations," said Marta Guerreiro.
The Regional Secretary stated that 26 fast charging stations for electric vehicles in publicly accessible places will be "provided, operated and maintained by duly licensed Charging Station Operators. They will be connected to the electric mobility network, through the managing entity of the Mobi.E network."
The Secretary for Energy pointed out that this initiative requires "the installation of fast charging stations in publicly accessible areas that meet the appropriate requirements, ensuring the safety of installed equipment and road traffic rules."
Marta Guerreiro assured that "the full and balanced coverage of all islands and municipalities is safeguarded, while fulfilling the needs of population groups living far away from urban centres."
"We want to create the conditions for the effective introduction of electric vehicles, thus contributing to the reduction of carbon emission in the land transport sector," said the government official. In this regard, she added that the "Azores have the ideal characteristics for the implementation of electric mobility, considering the average daily routes and the size of the islands, as opposed to the growing autonomy of electric vehicles."
According to Marta Guerreiro, the Government is working on a "regional legislative framework for its projection and implementation as well as for the creation of financial incentives, taking into account its strategic and operational specificities." Furthermore, the document will include the creation of "non-financial incentives aimed at the positive discrimination of electric vehicle users by involving public and private entities in the implementation of measures and actions to stimulate the purchase of electric vehicles."
"Electric mobility is a strategic option of the Azorean Government as a tool to achieve low carbon, increased energy efficiency and sustainable development goals. This will have clear effects on improving environmental quality as well as on promoting the progressive electrification of the land transport system and a low-carbon economy," said the Regional Secretary.