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.

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.

Grant Scheme to purchase Electric Vehicles Extended

Government extends the current Grant Scheme on the Purchase of Electric Vehicles to include registered NGOs and Private Companies

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

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.

Subject to various conditions, the grant is divided in three combinations and besides applicable to private persons it has now been extended to registered NGOs and the business community as indicated in the scheme itself.

A grant of €4,000 will be given to persons registering an electric car and €1,500 to those registering an electric quadricyle. The grant shall increase from €4,000 to €5,000 in cases of persons registering a 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.

Applications will be handled on a first come first served basis.

This is another initiative 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).

Besides the promotion for the use of electric vehicles in Malta and facilitation of market entry and penetration of the latest technologies being introduced on the European and International markets, the Government has also embarked on a phased approach to install the necessary infrastructure to compliment the use of these vehicles. Malta also have a European Target to install at least 500 electric vehicle charging points nationwide by 2020 as well as to have at least 5,000 electric vehicles registered on Maltese Roads by the same year.

With respect to the deployment of public electric vehicle charging points,  Government has a adopted a phased approach such as to make sure that this deployment is carried out in a manner to benefit from the continuous developments taking place in the field of electric car charging infrastructure as well as the  developments of the vehicles themselves.

It is the intention of the Government that for the short to medium term, the electric car charging infrastructure would be a mix of both medium and fast charging units so that electric car charging is carried out in the least possible time for the convenience of the electric vehicle owners, especially those who do not have access to a car garage.

Besides promoting sustainable and clean mobility, the scope of these initiatives is to assist the government in addressing Malta’s National environmental targets, which range from climate change and energy targets as well as the improvement of Air Quality Levels. At this point the public is also being reminded that besides this grant another grant for the conversion to LPG is still open.

It is the intention of the Government to continue with its drive to promote sustainable mobility with a number of measures that will be introduced in the near future such as the granting of access for electric vehicles to use the bus-lane infrastructure being introduced on various road sections of the National Road Network, The public is also reminded that the annual vehicle license for electric vehicles is just €10 year.

Applications for these schemes are available from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Unit, Hornsworks Ditch, Floriana or downloaded from the Authority’s website: http://www.transport.gov.mt/land-transport/electric-cars

Notes:

The Notice relating to this scheme will be published in today’s Government Gazzette, Tuesday 17^th February 2015.