Volkswagen delivers first electric cars for private customers on Astypalea
The Volkswagen Group has delivered the first electric cars to private customers on the Greek island of Astypalea.
As part of the ‘Smart & Sustainable Island’ project, a joint venture between the Volkswagen Group and the Hellenic Republic, a turquoise ID.3 Pure was handed over to its new owner directly at the windmills of Chora, the main town on Astypalea. Further deliveries also included the ID.4 and e-up! as well as the Seat MÓ eScooter 125.
Local authorities have been using electric vehicles as a result of the partnership since last year, and in the coming years, Astypalea will be converted into an island where the mobility will be smart and sustainable, and the energy system will be completely renewed.
Thanos Papagiannis, the first ID.3 customer on Astypalea, is a firm advocate of e-mobility. His new electric vehicle replaces a Volkswagen Golf 3: “E- mobility is a perfect match for Astypalea. The distances here are short, the power consumption is low, and the charging network is now very well developed. I really hope that Astypalea will inspire other regions to increase their efforts for climate protection adopting e-mobility solutions. ”
Maik Stephan, Head of Business Development of Volkswagen Group and Project Manager, emphasizes: “Astypalea is a laboratory for the mobility of the future. The island is experiencing the same change as any other region in Europe, only in a much shorter time. With the first private customers driving electric now, word will quickly get around how fascinating e-mobility is.”
The next milestone of the ‘Smart & Sustainable Island’ project will see Volkswagen launch innovative, all-electric mobility services together with local companies. Ride sharing and vehicle sharing are designed to improve mobility while helping to reduce the total number of vehicles on the island.
