Mobility Basic Figures

On basis of the energy balance of 2005 energy consumption in Greece in the transport sector represents almost 39% of total final energy consumption in the country. This percentage ranked Greece in the 6th position for energy transport in the EU while the EU average (EU -15) is 32.3%. Compared with 1990, in 2005 the total energy consumption in transport in Greece has increased by 38.9% while the number of wheeled vehicles has more than doubled. Additionally, the demand for passenger transport is estimated to have increased by about 75%. With respect to greenhouse gas emissions by the transport sector emits 23% of the total CO2 in Greece whereas in recent years a rapid increase of nitrous oxide is shown.

During the period 1980 -2007 the number of passenger cars increased by 5.5 times (from 0.87 million to 4.8 million cars). The new registered cars represent a percentage varying from 5% to 11% each year of the total passenger cars. The highest percentage of new registered cars was recorded in 1992 (11%). It should be pointed out that about 99% of the passenger cars in Greece are using gasoline. The use of diesel in transportation cars is allowed only in the countryside. According to findings of the EU funded project ALTERMOTIVE the stock of alternative vehicles is limited to a small number of LPG/CNG/biogas cars and buses (number of gas cars decreased from around 2,100 in 2000 to about 500 in 2007. In Athens a considerable share of the public transport fleet (416 busses in 2007 all procured in 2001 and 2004 using financial funding of the 3rd European Community Support Framework and the Hellenic Program of Public Investment; about 20% of the fleet) and waste disposal vehicles (about 100 vehicles) are fuelled with CNG. Between 2004 and 2006 the Regional Energy Agency of Crete (REAC) along with other local stakeholders ran a pilot project involving high biodiesel mixtures in public buses in Eastern Crete. This was the first pilot project of its kind in Greece. According to various information sources, i.e. the EU funded project BEST, other alternative vehicles as running with E85 flexifuel, or hydrogen are not introduced in the Greek market yet.

According to the Greek Ministry of transport there are about 40 electro cars and light duty vehicles (all charged in home). In the years 2009 and 2010 there are registered only two new electro vehicles in Greece. In general the overall acceptance of electro mobility is seen low. However some initiatives are underway promoting electro mobility, i.e. Greek power company  PPC (Public Power Corporation, DEI) as well as the Regulatory Authority of Energy (RAE). A first pilot project will be started at the end of 2011 in the City of Kozani crating a network of about 20 to 22 recharging stations and running at least 15 vehicles (the project is part of the European funded programme GreenMotion). The first experience made with electro vehicles were made in the year 2000 where the the municipal of Amaroussion purchased 15 electro vehicles for the use of the public administration (this action was part of the EU funded programme ZEUS).

The distribution of biodiesel in Greek is implemented through the refineries. There is a specific procedure that defines the biodiesel quantities which every biodiesel company can

sell to the refineries. Biodiesel is mixed with diesel and is distributed to the petrol stations and finally to the end users.

The Centre for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES) undertook an eco-driving pilot study (partly financed by the EU) in collaboration with the Organisation of Urban Transport of Athens and the Thermo Bus Company to assess the changing urban bus drivers' style towards fuel saving.

Since 2001 in Athens there are two CNG filling (refuelling) stations in Athens for serving the public gas vehicle fleet (manly buses) operated by the state owned gas company DEPA. The first of these stations is located next to the OASA depot in Ano Liossia. The Station is able to service the needs of up to 600 buses every day.

The geo-information system European Environmental Atlas lists 18 LPG fuelling stations on Greek mainland (10 in the wider Athens region and 5 in the Thessalonica region) as well as two on the Island of Creta. The geo-information system www.h2stations.org lists one hydrogen refuelling station related to the CRES demonstration wind park.

Various information sources indicate that for other alternative fuels there are no public facilities for refuelling/charging yet.

Fiscal Incentives

In Greece there is a uniform VAT tax rate of 19% on the purchase of vehicles. The registration tax is based in cylinder capacity and emissions (the tax volume of the emission component varies between 5% - 50%). The tax on ownerships for passenger cars depends on the cylinder capacity and for commercial vehicles on the payload).

For electric and hybrid vehicles several incentives are given article 121 of law 2960/2001 article 17 of law 3888/2010):

• Exempted from the special registration tax as it is imposed to all other private used cars;

• Are also exempted for its life from the yearly circulation taxes;

• Are excluded from the restrictive meters of circulation, where these are applied.

The incentive however is from an economical point of view relatively low because the owner of an electro vehicle has to pay the full amount of luxury tax which creates the lion share of tax burden (depending on the type of vehicle from 10 to 30% of the net vehicle value).

There is an excise duty on fuel of 0.359 EUR/litres for unleaded petrol and 0.302 for diesel. A provision incorporated in Article34 of Act 3340/2005 provides a full exemption from excise duty for a quota of 182 m litres biodiesel.

Funding

The Hellenic Program of Public Investment funds 50% of investment cost for fleet removals (i.e. the CNG buses in Athens were funded).

The ministerial programme “EXIKONOMO” (Save) motivates municipalities to implement innovative activities – also in Transport Sector – with a subsidy of 70%.

Regulation

The Greek legislation for biofuels has adopted the EU Directive 2003/30/EC since 2005 by the Law 3423/2005 “Insertion of biofuels and other alternative fuels in the Greek market”.

Currently, in Greece the Ministry of Development is responsible for the central procurement of goods for public institutions. It was created through the amalgamation of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Technology, the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Tourism. The Department of Commerce as part of the Ministry has as so called Directorate General for Public Procurement which takes the operative responsibility for public procurement. Every year the General Directorate for Public Procurement calls various institutions of the government to communicate their need for supplies for the coming year including vehicles which is than summarised and published in the annual Uniform Procurement Program (SPP). The requirements are than tendered per category in a centralised way. All tender notices for procurement are published on the Secretary of Commerce website (www.gge.gr). There is also an online guide for public procurement under www.gge.gr/11/. Following these guidelines there is no product specific environmental standard to be applied.

For the procurement of the CNG bus fleet in Athens the selection criteria were based on environmental protection and promotion of new technology also in view of Athens 2004 Olympics.

In 1996, seven partners in the EU funded ZEUS project decided to form a procurement consortium in order to jointly procure electric vehicles. Among others cities were Athens and Amaroussion.  The aim was to purchase one passenger car and one transporter. In June 1997, 9 tenders were received, whereof 4 were from France. Several tenders had restrictions and could not fulfil all the requirements. In the end 2 passenger cars were selected (Fiat 600 Elettra, Peugeot 106 Electric (UK only)) and one van (Citroën Berlingo Electric). In total, the consortium bought 278 vehicles. Prices were reduced by 25-50 %. Maintenance and spare part service filled the requirements, and there was an option for third party to buy more than 150 vehicles.

www.ypan.gr	webpage of the Greek Ministry of Development which has the overall responsibility on public procurement
www.ypan.gr/c_announce/45_5395_cms.htm	webpage of the Ministry of Development with special information on the funding programme safe
www.gge.gr/11/	webpage of the Department of Commerce/Directorate General for Public Procurement with guidelines for public procurement
www.ypeka.gr/Default.aspx	webpage of the Greek Ministry of Environment with basis information on clean vehicles
www.cres.gr/energy_saving/metafores/metafores_intro.htm	webpage of the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation with extensive information and tools for clean vehicles
www.ecodriving.gr	web based fashtool for teaching environmental friendly driving behaviour (part of the EU funded project eco-driving)
www.ecotopten.gr	Greek version of the European funded TopTen project data base with a ranking of environmental friendly cars
www.heliev.gr	webpage of the Greek institute for Electro Vehicles

Vehicle Statistics 2009

GUIDE FOR THE PROGRAM saves