The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism highlighted today the commitment of the Regional Government to sustainable development with the aim of fostering a low carbon economy by equipping Island Environment Services with electric vehicles.
 
"This is another step taken in the context of a strategy we are implementing in the Azores. At the moment, there are already 10 electric vehicles in operation at the Environment Services of the Azores," said Marta Guerreiro, who spoke in Santa Cruz of Graciosa at the delivery of an electric vehicle to the Island Natural Park.
 
The Secretary for the Environment pointed out that this delivery falls within "the electric mobility programme implemented by Environment Services and, in this context, the Regional Directorate allocated these vehicles to be mainly used by the body of Nature Watchers.
 
"We want to promote the mass expansion of electric vehicles as they allow people to travel safely, comfortably and at low cost, while playing an active role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere," said the government official.
 
For Marta Guerreiro, it is important that everyone be "aware of the positive impacts of electric vehicles on the operation of the regional electricity system as well as of the potential synergy with the production of electricity from renewable and endogenous sources." As she also emphasised, this makes electric mobility the "most effective way to promote sustainability in land transport sector, without the use of fossil fuels."
 
The Regional Secretary recalled that one of the Government's "priority investments" concerns the promotion of electric mobility by "providing all Azorean municipalities with a public robust and safe network of 26 charging stations for electric vehicles between 2019 and 2020."
 
This network of charging stations covers all municipalities of the archipelago, thus safeguarding a comprehensive and balanced coverage of all the islands. It will address the needs of populations living far away from urban centres, taking into consideration commuting movements and tourism flows.