The faster Moldova has high-capacity chargers for electric cars, the faster will grow the interest and, respectively, the demand for such cars in the country. According to Iulian Rusu, vice director of the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE), the new electric cars can cost over €30,000 and this is the limit on which higher excise duties are imposed on the import of luxury cars. To encourage the purchase of electric cars, the authorities should review this ceiling. The subject was discussed in the EU Debates Café held under the theme “Promotion of green mobility: electric cars in the Republic of Moldov” that was staged by the IPRE, IPN reports.

Iulian Rusu noted a good measure is for the state to provide particular premiums, as in Romania, which offers over €10,000 on the purchase of an electric car. Solutions can be also implemented at the local level, such as free or preferential parking, right to travel on dedicated lanes. Moldova now does not impose a road tax on the owners of electric cars, but this is not fully right as they also use the roads.

The IPRE expert noted the autonomy of the battery is a challenge for an electric car owner. However, as long as the conditions are respected, the life of the car can be long. The relatively low maintenance costs are the advantage of electric cars.

Simion Berzoi, coordinator of the UNDP project “Green City Lab”, said the life of the battery of an electric car is of 12 to 15 years and even more for the cars of the new generation. If a battery can no longer be used for an electric car, it can be used to store energy. This way, a battery can be used during even 25 years. The battery should be later recycled. In Moldova, the batteries cannot be recycled and this can be done in Romania.

There are now 75 stations for charging electric cars in Moldova and 33 more charging units are to be set up by the end of this year.