State administration of Slovenia will use electric vehicles through car sharing model

Slovenia is one of the first countries in the world which will use electric vehicles in the state administration through the model of car sharing.

Minister of Public Administration Boris Koprivnikar, minister of Infrastructure Peter Gašperšič and co-founder of Avant Car Matej Čer signed the agreement on the electric vehicles sharing through the Avant2Go service for the needs of the state administration.

With this pilot project, Slovenia positioned itself as one of the first countries in the world introducing modern services resulting from the sharing economicy business model, the Ministry of Infrastructure reported.

Slovenia is one of the countries with the highest number of cars per capita, with over 600 cars per 1,000 people and over 1.2 million registered vehicles. With up to 95% of cars being parked all the time, the model of car sharing should improve their efficiency and change current understanding of vehicle ownership. The e-vehicles sharing in the public administration project will be in a trial run for one year.

“We do not want to be followers of development, but we want to become a trendsetter. We have the Slovenian knowledge and Slovenian solutions that can represent an excellent example. The cooperation with Avant2Go is such an example based on the Slovenian knowledge,” said minister Koprivnikar.

Minister of Infrastructure Peter Gašperšič said that signing of the agreement is a step forward in sustainable mobility and the transition to a low-carbon society.

“This transition is no longer an idea, but the objective we will actively strive for. The transport sector is a generator of about 40% of greenhouse gasses and electric mobility is of the utmost importance for reducing these emissions. The decarbonisation of transport is the key,” said the minister.

Increase in sales of electric vehicles 75%

Last year, the project for the construction of fast charging stations network on the motorway was finished. It includes 28 quick charging stations, which makes Slovenia one of the best-covered countries within the European Union (EU). To boost the use of electric vehicles, the Slovenian Eco Fund was increased last year. As the result of this measure, there was an increase in sales of electric vehicles, with 75% more e-vehicles sold in 2016 than in previous years.

The Ministry of Infrastructure has also prepared a strategy and an action plan to promote the use of alternative fuels, which will include measures to further promote e-mobility. The model of car sharing represents a significant potential to expand the network throughout the country thus promoting the concept of e-mobility, especially in urban centers.

Matej Čer of Avant Car said that e-vehicles sharing is already underway through the application of the Avant2Go service which allows users the possibility to easily book the rental of electric vehicles. The vehicles are technologically advanced, with no emissions of greenhouse gasses.

The e-vehicles are available for rental in Ljubljana and Murska Sobota and the service will be available throughout the country.

By implementing of this project, the state administration wants to bring closer the user experience of electric vehicles sharing to a wider range of people and decision-makers as well as to accelerate the development of Slovenia.