Green Vehicles Grant re-launched

Transport Malta re-opens Grant Scheme on the Purchase of New Environment-Friendly Vehicles and extends the Grant Scheme on the Purchase of Electric Vehicles to include Local Councils

Transport Malta, in conjunction with the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, is extending the current scheme in the form of a grant to incentivise the purchase of Battery Electric Vehicles and Battery Electric Quadricycles. Following the success of the scheme launched last January, a further €100,000 has been allocated and the scheme has now been extended to include Local Councils.

This scheme is aimed at reducing the number of old motor vehicles from the road while promoting the use of clean and energy efficient vehicles as a way to contribute towards the  reduction of traffic generated pollution and   improvement of  air quality levels.

A grant of €4,000 will be given to persons registering a new or used electric car and €2,000 to those registering a new or used electric quadricyle. The grant shall increase from €4,000 to €7,000 in cases of persons registering a new Battery Electric Vehicle while at the same time opting to de-register another internal combustion engine propelled vehicle which is at least 10 years old from the year of its manufacture.

The scheme is also open to both new and second hand Battery Electric Vehicles which should not exceed 12,000 km on the odometer and would not be more than 24 months old.

In addition, Transport Malta and the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure is also launching two new grants to further promote Electromobility.

Purchase and Installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Pillars for the Business Community and NGOs

The Government in conjunction with Transport Malta is launching a new scheme to incentivise the Installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Pillars for the Business Community and NGOs.

The scheme is aimed assisting market entry of the electric vehicle charging technology and to assist business undertakings and NGOs to switch to cleaner vehicle technology, by assisting the increase in technology available to recharge car batteries.

The grant will amount to a maximum of €2,000 per electric vehicle charging pillar. Every eligible entity can install more than one electric vehicle charging pillar but shall be entitled to only one ‘total’ grant under this scheme which will be inclusive for up to a maximum of five (5) charging pillars. A company may install the pillars specifically for its use or for the use of its clients.

Government Grant for the Upgrading of New Plug-in Electric Vehicle Importers’ Service Centres and Staff Training

Another new scheme that the Government, in conjunction with Transport Malta, is launching is a scheme to incentivise the Upgrading of Electric Vehicle Service Garages established within new plug-in EV Car Importers.

The scheme is aimed at assisting the market entry of the new plug-in electric vehicles in the Maltese Islands which are not yet available on the national market and to assist car importers to start offering Support Servicing on their sold EVs. This will prompt private persons, the business community and NGOs to switch to cleaner vehicle technology, especially since with such a scheme vehicle servicing can be done locally.

The grant will amount to a maximum of €25,000 per Car Importer. The scheme is for a grant intended for established new-Car Importers and their current Service Garages to cater for the maintenance of new Plug-in Electric Vehicle models currently both on the Maltese car market and new vehicles intended to be introduced on the Maltese new car market. The grant can also be used for/or in conjunction with staff training and re-training.

All applications will be handled on a first come first served basis.

These are other initiatives of the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure and Transport Malta as part of Government policy to promote the use of clean and energy efficient vehicles.

Over the last few years Government had published its policy to promote the introduction of    electromobility in Malta with the publication of the Malta National Electromobility Action Plan (MNEAP) and the set up of the Malta National Electromobility Platform (MNEP).

Applications for these schemes are available from the Vehicle Licensing Unit or downloaded here.

Greening the Environment

Greening the Environment Initiatives Awarded

The Port-PVEV Project, an EU funded project demonstrating energy efficiency in port areas and candidate for the GREENING THE ISLANDS AWARDS won the award for the best sustainable transport measure.  The Port PVEV Project was led by Transport Malta and partnered by the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, the Port Authority of Catania, the Municipality of Caltanissetta and the Port of Gela.

The award ceremony was part of a three day international conference entitled Greening the Islands with the participation of a number of small islands in the Mediterranean and beyond. The conference which started last Wednesday, incorporated in it Malta’s Second Electromobility Conference entitled The Air We Share which was also addressed by Hon Minister Joe Mizzi and Hon Minister Leo Brincat. Besides sustainable mobility and climate change issues, the conference is also discussing issues relating to energy and water and brings to the table problems and solutions that are shared by those attending the conference.

The Greening the Islands Award Ceremony included in it an Award Ceremony for those local Councils who last year  participated in the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans Competition organised by Transport Malta, MEPA, the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change.

Valletta has received a € 50,000 grant to implement VATIS, a project which aims to supply commuters with real time information on transport access to and from, and within the city through a mobile APP to be developed by Valletta through the project.

The Local Councils of Cospicua, Paola and Qormi have also been awarded € 10,000 each to be used in purchasing an electric vehicle to support day-to-day duties of the local council while maintaining a low carbon footprint.

Cospicua and St Paul’s Bay Local Councils have been announced as the winners (first and second places respectively) for the 2015 edition of the SUMP Competition. Cospicua has won €50,000 for their proposal to deploy electric vehicles and use them to extend a pilot which offers electric cab taxi services to its residents.  The Council proposes to extend the service to the three surrounding cities of Birgu, Isla and Kalkara as well as improve connections from the ferry landing sites to the city centre. 

St Paul’s Bay Local Council will in turn receive € 30,000 for the proposal to install charging infrastructure dedicated to electric bicycles and motorcycles, as well as information and awareness raising with residents on the advantages of this mode of transport.

Vittoriosa Local Council’s efforts to pedestrianise its city core and thus reduce traffic from the urban centre have been acknowledged.  The Local Council has been awarded the Best Sustainable Transport Measure Award which comes in the form of a € 10,000 grant.

These grants have been made available by the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, MEPA and Transport Malta as part of European Mobility Week Malta events.

Between the 26^th October and 1^st November further events aimed at promoting sustainable mobility are being held in various localities around Malta and Gozo.

Between the 26th and 30th October, Bormla Local Council will be offering free electric taxi services from all parts of Bormla to the city centre.

On 30th October, Għarb Local Council (Gozo) is hosting a workshop on cycling safety and other activities at the main square which shall be pedestrianised for the day.

On 31st October, Għaqda Mużikali Madonna tal-Ġilju will be hosting a workshop on cycling safety, a rodeo for children, an Electric Vehicles Exhibition and other activities at the Mqabba main square which will be closed for traffic for the day.

On 1st November, Birgu Local Council shall host several activities at the city core which will be entirely closed for traffic on the day. Activities include walking tours and electric vehicle tours around Birgu’s historical centre, electric cars and antique bicycles exhibitions, dghajsa tal-pass transport from Birgu to Valletta and Isla will be offered on discounted prices on the day.

Credit goes to the Local Councils of Birgu, Bormla and Għarb andthe Għaqda Madonna tal-Ġilju (Mqabba) for their collaboration.

All the above mentioned events are being held as part of the ‘Do The Right Mix’ Campaign a joint initiative in conjunction with European Mobility Week being promoted by the European Commission to promote urban sustainable mobility.

Electric vehicles for Transport Malta

Deployment of Green Infrastructure in Maltese Port Areas

Transport Malta has deployed thirteen full electric vehicles as part of its general fleet ranging from crew and panel vans, passenger vehicles and quadricycles. These vehicles are used as part of enforcement, maintenance and courier duties carried out by the Authority. Transport Malta also installed a Photovoltaic Plant at the Malta Transport Centre covering a surface area of 1,290 square metres.

These initiatives have been implemented as part of an EU funded project entitled PORT-PVEV which has been co-financed at a rate of 85% through the Operational Programme Italy-Malta 2007-2013.  The project, led by Transport Malta, brought together the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, the Port Authority of Catania and the Province of Caltanissetta. 

Through the project, the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure installed three solar electric car charging stations at Ċirkewwa ferry terminal, Ta’ Xbiex Marina and Deep Water Quay car park.   The solar charging stations provide direct sun-to-car electricity through the solar power produced on site which is stored in on site 24kWh lithium-ion batteries.  Through inverters, the battery transfers electricity to charging electric vehicles.  Any extra electricity is absorbed by the grid.  The solar car charging stations are able to produce over 3000 charging events per annum at full carbon neutrality.

Through these initiatives over 200 tonnes of CO₂ emissions are saved annually from Maltese port areas.

These results have been made public during the second national electromobility conference held yesterday at Phoenicia hotel.  The conference is being organised in conjunction with Greening the Islands, an annual, travelling conference highlighting solutions for sustainability for islands. The event is being held between the 28^th and 30^th October and focuses on transport, energy and water.  It aims at implementing an interdisciplinary approach between these key areas of green economy.