The Regional Government has extended the scope of eligible beneficiaries for the allocation of financial incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles operating as taxi and rent-a-car transport on the island of Graciosa.
 
This initiative falls within the "Graciosa - Model Island" project and is being developed in conjunction with the Santa Cruz da Graciosa Town Council. It aims to make this island an example of smart electric ecosystem, based on the sustainable use of its resources and their optimised integration into the network. 

This pilot project provides for the implementation of innovative and emerging electric mobility solutions, namely the use of electric bicycles through a sharing system, taking advantage from the island's natural features for the adoption of this type of mobility. 

Additionally, the Regional Government is also encouraging the use of electric vehicles on this island as they will largely benefit from Graciosa's power grid, which is mostly supplied by renewable sources.
 
In this context, applications submitted by individuals and legal persons providing taxi transport services or operating rent-a-car companies with tax residence on the island Graciosa are also eligible for these incentives. 

This measure follows an amendment to the Regional Implementing Decree regulating the allocation of financial incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and charging stations, approved by the Council of the Government. 

This amendment also takes into account that the Electric Mobility Plan in the Azores provides for measures aimed at promoting the introduction of electric vehicles in the regional market, namely in the areas covered by this legislative change. 

In May, about 67% of the energy generated on the island of Graciosa came from clean sources as a result of the Graciólica project, which has been operating on this island for 10 months, with an average penetration of renewable sources of about 60%. 

Graciólica is a private investment that has been recognised as being of regional interest, with an overall budget of 22.5 million Euros, having received financial support amounting to 4.5 million Euros. 

With an installed capacity of 5.5 MW, this project includes a hybrid wind and photovoltaic production system as well as a battery bank for energy storage. Since its entry into operation, it has already resulted in the entry of approximately 108 accumulated days of 100% clean energy into Graciosa's power grid. 

In the Azores, financial incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and charging stations are available to individuals or legal persons with tax residence in the archipelago. They may be allocated in conjunction with other similar incentives provided for in national legislation.
 
The incentives granted for the purchase of electric vehicles may be increased in the following cases: electricity users with time of use tariff; users with tax residence on the islands belonging to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (Corvo, Flores, Graciosa and São Jorge); users presenting technological solutions for the smart management of electrical networks, promoting the integration of renewable and endogenous energy sources and ensuring the safety of supply, and users presenting a certification of destruction to prove that their internal combustion vehicle has been destroyed.