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Malta signs memorandum with Portugal over introduction of electric vehicles
Environment minister George Pullicino signed a memorandum of understanding with Portugal in the electric mobility sector, so as to start developing a local infrastructure required for the introduction of electric cars.
16 December 2010, 12:00am
Martina Said
Martina Said
1 min read
The memorandum of understanding was signed in Lisbon, Portugal, in the presence of Portugal’s secretary for energy and innovation Professor Carlos Zorrinho. The agreement should start to see the implementation of a network of changing points for electric vehicles.
During the bilateral meeting, various issues were discussed, namely the use of clean energy. Portugal has established a clear aim of producing 60% of its energy from clean sources by 2020.
Car company Renault-Nissan have chosen Portugal as a location to launch their 2011 electric cars.
Numerous other car companies like Renault/Nissan, Vauxhall, Mitsubishi and Chrysler/FIAT have announced the imminent launch of their own electric cars.
Malta has set an objective of 5,000 electric vehicles by 2020, as part of a plan to reduce emissions. The vehicles should contribute only one third of the carbon dioxide produced by conventional vehicles.
In 2009, government introduced a registration tax and licensing reform known as M1. There’s also been the introduction of the scrapping scheme to reduce emissions produced by old cars.
Government is also introducing the incentive whereby persons who purchase an electric car may benefit from a subsidy of up to €5,000 for the installation of grid connected renewable energy sources. Also, the annual circulation license fee for electric cars will cost €10 as opposed to the usual €75.
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This must be exceedingly good news for the environment.
This comes on the heels of a major €90 million inward investment to make the biofuel ethanol from non-food biomass for use in cars. According to the European Union EurActiv information reported a few months ago when this plant is completed it will provide about 90 million liters (10% of the country's needs) of this ethanol fuel needed for cars in Malta/Gozo within 2 to 3 years. I read that this proposal which is currently being scrutinised by Malta Enterprise for the Government will employ over 140 permanent technicians and technical staff - a well needed fillip of employment for Malta.
What is also surprising, according to the same EU publication, the same company is proposing to build a second much larger plant as another inward investment of around €140 to 160 million which when complete will produce a furthe 160 or so million liters of ethanol fuel which can either be used in Malta or exported. This plant should also require a permanent staff of over 180 technicians and technical persons. This shows to me that there is some good interests in Malta by foreign companies and that should be very welcome to those who are seeking good quality high paid jobs.
Lets hear more good news like this for Our people need this and lets hope that the Government gets its act together and tells us when these planyts will happen.
