Portugal is on track to open the world's first nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging network early next year, Portuguese Energy Secretary Carlos Zorrinho said on Tuesday.
Imported fossil fuel dependent Portugal plans to replace 10 percent of all vehicles with electric cars by 2020, to cut imports and help manage variable supply from a rapidly growing wind power industry.
The MOBI.E charging network — 51 controlled by Energias de Portugal — will include 1,300 normal and 50 fast charging stations at shopping centers, car parks, petrol stations and hotels in 25 towns and cities around Portugal.
The open system of charging points will be compatible with all electric vehicle brands, including electric motorbikes and heavy goods vehicles when they become available.
Portugal is hoping wide use of electric cars can slash imports of fuels and help absorb some of the extra green electricity that will be generated over the next few decades.
With plans to increase its wind power capacity from around 5 gigawatts by the end of 2010 to 8.50 GW by 2020, Portugal's isolation from the rest of continental Europe because of a lack of grid connections between Spain and France is a big problem.
Construction of power lines across the Pyrenees to France has been delayed for years, trapping vast amounts of renewable energy output in the Iberian Peninsula. nLDE68R11Q
Lisbon is offering 5,000 euros ($6,951) to buyers of the first 5,000 EVs sold in Portugal, with further tax breaks and old combustion engine trade in values adding another 2,300 euros.
The high price of electric vehicles compared to petrol and diesel fueled cars is a major obstacle to EV sales in other European countries.
But very high taxes on conventional cars in Portugal means subsidized EVs are only slightly more expensive than their carbon-emitting competitors, making EVs an attractive option for consumers.
SOLAR SUPPORT
Portugal has one of the largest solar power sectors in the world, supported by big government incentives, but unlike Spain and Germany which are looking to trim support for solar projects, Lisbon has no plans to slash subsidies.
He said financial support for existing projects was assured, but that as technology costs fall less support should be needed to make solar power competitive in future.
