Cyprus has a long way to go when it comes to EV's

Cyprus lags behind the rest of the European Union in the adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), according to data from the European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO). While growth is noted and targets seem achievable, the country's rate of electric car use remains among the lowest in the EU.

In an article in Oikonomiki by George Kakouris, in 2023, BEVs and hybrids comprised only 0.37% of vehicles in Cyprus, compared to an EU average of 6.15%. New registrations for alternative fuel vehicles in Cyprus stood at 9.28%, with electric vehicles accounting for 5.65% and hybrids 3.63%. The EU, by contrast, saw 25.36% in new registrations for 2023 and 22.69% in 2024 so far.

Despite this, Cyprus has seen significant growth in charging infrastructure, increasing from 67 charging points in 2022 to 329 in 2023, and 403 recorded so far in 2024. However, the transition to sustainable transport is still in its infancy, with the Spring Semester report highlighting the slow progress.

Cyprus has met its targets for increasing the number of electric and hybrid vehicles by 2025 and 2030, as well as for recharging infrastructure. Yet, the country faces challenges, including high vehicle costs and concerns over driving range, according to EAFO research.

The survey found that while there is significant interest in switching to BEVs, the high cost and limited range remain major deterrents. The median price respondents were willing to pay for a BEV was €20,000, yet 46% of BEV owners paid more than €40,000.

The European Commission is working to boost competitiveness and has launched an investigation into Chinese subsidies for electric vehicle producers. This effort aligns with the EU's broader goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 90% by 2050, part of the European Green Deal.

The 2019 data from EAFO showed that transport was the sector with the highest carbon dioxide emissions, with passenger cars accounting for 60.6% of these emissions.

Despite the progress, Cyprus still faces a long road ahead. The European Semester report identifies key challenges, including insufficient renewable energy deployment and delays in transitioning to a circular economy. Additionally, the country lacks railways, and public transport use is only at 13%, contributing to high traffic congestion.

As Cyprus strives to increase electric car penetration, it remains at the early stages of its sustainable transport journey.