Transport and Covid-19: responses and resources

Advancing Sustainable Mobility in Greece: Promoting the Uptake of Electric Vehicles

Advancing Sustainable Mobility in Greece: Promoting Electric Vehicle Uptake
This project supports Greece in developing a sustainable transport sector and cleaner mobility. Specifically, it aims to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles and the adoption of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) by regional and municipal authorities. This report presents results and recommendations related to the promotion of electromobility. 

By 2030, at least 30 million zero-emission cars will be operating on European roads. This project aims to help Greece attain this objective, as set out in the European Commission’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. Greece’s car fleet is among the oldest in Europe, with an average vehicle age of 16 years. The uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) in Greece remains very low: in 2020, EVs accounted for only 2.6% of new car sales, compared with the European Union (EU) average of 10.5%. The project reviews best practices in the EU, using ITF quantitative modelling to develop policy recommendations for accelerating EV adoption in Greece, including the expansion of charging infrastructure.

The European Union funds the work via the Technical Support Instrument in co-operation with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support. It is implemented by the International Transport Forum in collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. The official project title is “Recharge and Refuel: Clean, Smart and Fair Urban Mobility”. 

Find out more at our interactive webinar on 25 October

Find all deliverables, including an extended version of the report, in both English and Greek

Policy Insights

On subsidy schemes:

  • Target the marginal consumer to ensure the maximum impact of subsidy budgets

  • Target subsidies for used vehicles and lower-income groups to unlock mass-market EV adoption

  • Consider revising the administrative operation of subsidy schemes towards indirect disbursement models

  • Plan for the introduction of subsidies for electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles

On charging infrastructure in local and regional authorities:

  • Prioritise concession tender models for charging infrastructure deployment

  • Disaggregate concession areas and bundle profitable locations with less economically viable locations to ensure widespread coverage

  • Provide support for local and regional authorities to work on charging infrastructure. This includes both financial resources for staff and guidance to help support decision-making

  • Develop regional charging plans

On meeting the Alternative Fuels and Infrastructure Regulation:

  • Proactively prepare the electricity grid for EV charging demand

  • Align network reinforcement strategies with AFIR requirements and real-world demand projections

  • Define priority charging locations and tailor charging infrastructure deployment policies

  • Accelerate permitting and approval processes for charging infrastructure deployment

  • Develop strategic platforms to improve coordination between electromobility stakeholders

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