An increase has been recorded in the registration of hybrid vehicles in Cyprus between 2015-2018, according to figures sent to Parliament by Transport Minister Vassiliki Anastasiadou.
In the past three years 4,177 hybrid vehicles have been registered with the Road Transport Department. Specifically, 395 vehicles were registered in 2015, 746 in 2016, 1,362 in 2017 and 1,674 in 2018.
Electric vehicles
The registration of electric vehicles have also been increasing in the past four years, according to the Road Transport Department.
Specifically, 13 electric vehicles were registered in 2015, 30 in 2016, 100 in 2017 and 135 in 2018.
Taxes
Electric vehicles are exempt from road taxes and excise duties.
Hybrid cars usually have low CO2 emissions (under 120 gr/km) thus they are often exempt from excise duties, while the road tax is around €60.
Measures to promote use of electric vehicles
In her letter to Parliament, the Transport Minister said that the government is considering taking measures to encourage the use of electric vehicles.
Among the suggested measures are creating 20 charging stations (ten double stations) in public roads. Currently there are 36 (18 double) charging stations in Cyprus.
The government is also considering banning non-electric vehicles from parking in charging stations.
A 2014 EU Alternative Fuels Directive suggests that there should be at least one charging station per ten electric vehicles.
