Rethymno launched the first public e-vehicles in the region, including one electric mini bus and one electric car, and by doing so aims to promote electromobility to citizens and visitors.
The e-bus, accessible to people with disabilities, operates a new pilot circular route to connect the city center with the beach and Public Transport station, serving both citizens and tourists. The municipal e-car is used by the Technical Services department of the Municipality, operating also as a moving advert promoting clean vehicles and e-mobility.
The main objectives of the measure are to:
- increase awareness for electromobility and electric vehicles demand.
- increase use of clean fuelled vehicles in the public transport fleets.
- reduce CO2 emissions in the city centre.
- reduce private cars/taxi circulation, launching a new circular route in the city center.
The measure includes:
- Procurement of one e-car for the municipal fleet, to serve the Municipal Services operations and as a moving promotion of EVs.
- Leasing one mini e-bus to operate new circular routes to serve both citizens’ and tourists’ needs.
- Promotional campaign to promote electromobility and the use of the e-bus.
- Attractive and informative signage of the route stops and of the e-vehicles.
- Users’ satisfaction survey.
- Business model to keep the new route self-sustaining and identify replication potential in more routes/services/areas.