VW ID.4 as a police car on the Greek island of Astypalea

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In a pilot project, the island is to become completely electrically mobile

VW ID.4 as a police car on the Greek island of Astypalea-island

The Greek island of Astypalea is to become an electric island. Volkswagen and the Greek government have agreed on this. Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have handed over the first electric cars.

The electrification of Astypalaia has begun. This is already clear at the airport: there is a brand new charging station for electric cars right in front of the small arrival building. "Smart & Sustainable Island" is written on it, a sign shows the parking spaces as exclusive to e-cars. It is the beginning of a transformation that will fundamentally change Astypalea in the years to come. The long-term goal is a showcase island for sustainable mobility and green energy.

In the main town of Chora, Diess presented the local police with their new company vehicle: the Volkswagen ID.4 is the first electric police car in Greece. The port police, the airport authority and the island administration are now also on the move electrically.

Picture gallery: VW ID.4 as a police car on the Greek island of Astypalea

VW ID.4 as a police car on the Greek island of Astypalea-island become completely electrically mobile

In addition to e-cars, the fleet also includes two eScooters from Seat Mo. These are the first electric vehicles on Astypalea, with many more to follow. Sales to private and business customers will start at the end of June. The next step will be the new mobility services: both fully electric car sharing and ride sharing are already being prepared.

Volkswagen boss Diess emphasized the importance of the project far beyond Greece: "Astypalea is a future laboratory for decarbonization in Europe. On the island, we are researching in real time what motivates people to switch to e-mobility and what incentives it offers The transition to a sustainable lifestyle is needed. The findings will help accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility and green energy in Greece. "

The transformation also includes an energy transition towards renewable electricity. So far, Astypalea has been supplied almost exclusively with electricity from diesel generators, with CO2 emissions amounting to almost 5,000 tons per year. During the visit, the Greek government announced details of the new energy system.

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In the future, the electricity will mainly come from solar energy. In a first step, a solar field with a capacity of 3 megawatts will be installed by 2023. This means that 100 percent of the e-vehicles and up to 60 percent of the entire island can be supplied with green electricity.

The new energy system also includes a buffer battery with 7 megawatt hours (MWh) storage capacity, with which the grid can be balanced and the solar energy can be used in the best possible way. In a second step, the share of renewable energies will be expanded further until 2026 and will cover more than 80 percent of the electricity demand in the future. The new energy system will not only reduce CO2 emissions, it will probably also reduce energy costs. The Greek government is assuming savings potential of more than 25 percent.

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