Background information

The "Electrification by 1000" sponsorship scheme is included in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021-2026 and is funded by the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The key objective of the scheme is the promotion of electric vehicles through the development of an extensive network of electric vehicle recharging points. It aims to ensure the minimum infrastructure for the support and promotion of zero or low-emission vehicles in Cyprus, contribute to the local and EU climate targets, and ensure the interoperability of these infrastructures.

The scheme will be implemented into two phases; a call for applications to use the first half of the budget and a second call for applications to use the second half of the budget, which will likely be released at the end of 2023.

Content of measure

People engaged in economic activity, legal entities, such as companies, associations and foundations, NGOs, and local authorities that own or rent parking spaces for public use are eligible to benefit from this measure.

The sponsorship scheme provides for the cost of:

• the purchase and installation of the recharging station
• the preparation of an electrical study
• the connection to the electricity supply network
• the necessary building works
• the auxiliary equipment necessary for the operation
• the marking and the installation of a sign.

The aid will cover up to 50% of eligible costs for average areas, and 55% of the cost for mountainous or disadvantaged areas. The amount of funding is connected with the two electricity categories that the applicants are applying for use, alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC), the maximum output power and the power voltage – single and three-phase voltage. Thus, the maximum sponsorship ranges from €1,100 (AC, single voltage, 3,7kW<P<7,4kW) to €30,000 (DC, 150kW≤P<350kW) per each charging station.

For the first phase, each potential beneficiary may receive a grant for up to four charging stations per district with a maximum number of 15 across the country. Local authorities, however, may receive a grant for up to eight charging stations within their governing territories. The total budget of the scheme is €3.7 million.

Use of measure

The first phase of the plan has a budget of €1.8 million, which has funded 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds National funds National Recovery and Resilience Facility

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement as case not in social partner domain	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The design of the scheme was performed by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works (MTCW) and no involvement of social partners have been recorded in the processes. The coordinating agency is the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services of the MTCW, which is the implementing agency, in collaboration with Cyprus Energy Office.

Views and reactions

Reactions in relation to the provisions of the scheme have not been recorded. However, according to press reports, the coordinating authority received 120 applications by mid-April 2023. It seems that local authorities – municipal and community authorities – have a particular interest to participate in the scheme as well as petrol stations and other individuals.

Sources

• 12 January 2023: Ηλεκτροκίνηση με τα 1000 (ev1000.cea.org.cy)
• 09 February 2024: Απόφαση εφόρου κρατικών ενισχύσεων, Ε.Ε 5475, Απόφαση 149 (www.publicaid.gov.cy)