Greece and German auto giant Volkswagen teamed up Wednesday to help the Aegean island of Astypalea junk polluting cars in favour of electric vehicles to boost sustainable tourism.

The island's 1,300 residents and businesses will benefit from incentives financed by the Greek government to get rid of petrol and diesel cars, and VW will offer electric vehicles at low prices, a government source said.

Volkswagen said the project aimed to reinvent the island's transport system, with local bus service replaced by an all-electric year-round ridesharing service.

Many vehicles on the island are rentals to ferry the 72,000 tourists that visit each year, and the project aims to have visitors use the ridesharing system, which will include electric scooters and bikes as well as cars.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kostas Fragogiannis said the initiative was an example of how governments and corporations could work together to "promote climate protection, (and) apply innovative solutions to improve people's lives."

Volkswagen plans to install chargers across the island of 100 square kilometres (39 square miles).

VW chief executive Herbert Diess said the network of electric vehicles "will improve the quality of life, while contributing to a carbon neutral future."

An OECD report published last month found that Greece had made considerable progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but was being held back by the heavy reliance of islands on fossil fuels for transportation and heat.

Related Links
Car Technology at SpaceMart.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

VW's Traton, Toyota's Hino agree electric truck venture
Frankfurt Am Main (AFP) Oct 28, 2020
Volkswagen truck unit Traton and Toyota's commercial vehicles arm Hino Motors said Wednesday they would create a joint venture to develop electric trucks as manufacturers pivot to the growing e-vehicle market. Traton and Hino will develop battery-electric and fuel-cell trucks, alongside components and common software and interfaces, the companies said in a joint statement. Like the entire Volkswagen group, Traton has made electrification one of its strategic priorities, as it races to comply wi ... read more