The Ministerial Council has approved a grant scheme to facilitate the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in businesses. This initiative, according to the Minister of Transport, Communications, and Works, Alexis Vafeades, aims to meet the growing need for EV charging infrastructure in the Cypriot market.

Following the Council's session at the Presidential Palace, Minister Vafeades announced that the second phase of the "Electromobility with 1000" grant program had been approved. Funded through the Recovery and Resilience Plan, this phase will subsidize the installation of EV chargers by both individuals and legal entities engaging in economic activities. This measure complements other charger subsidy schemes run by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, aiming to address the comprehensive needs of the Cypriot market for EV charging.

The program will run from Monday until May 31, 2024. Applications submitted within this period will be evaluated, Vafeades noted, mentioning a grant allocation of €2.5 million for this phase. "We hope the public will respond positively," he added.

Vafeades highlighted improvements made to the program compared to its first phase, including increased grant eligibility for both individuals and legal entities, to expedite the utilization of the available funds.

Responding to a journalist's question, the Minister clarified that the scheme targets the installation of chargers at business locations such as supermarkets, stores, and offices for use by the general public, whether they are customers of a large office complex or staff members.

The goal is to install chargers in as many places as possible to cater to the needs of electromobility, he noted.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Works specified eligible installation sites for the chargers. These include public parking areas like municipal and community parking spaces, private parking areas (e.g., parking of department stores, hotels, supermarkets, banks, private hospitals, shopping centers), petrol station spaces, charging station locations, and roadside parking spots.

The statement added that eligible beneficiaries of the grants include individuals, legal entities (companies, associations, foundations, federations), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), public legal entities, local authorities engaging in economic activities within the scope of this project and who are owners or lessees of public parking spaces.

It was clarified that "beneficiaries do not include individuals or legal entities aiming to install the station for private use," citing the example of charging a fleet of organization vehicles.

The scheme subsidizes up to 45% of the installation cost for EV charging points. Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2024.

On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, details of the scheme's second phase will be posted on the website, and interested parties will be able to submit their applications, as stated in the announcement.