Handelsblatt: The future of travel in Astypalea

“A small Greek island becomes a laboratory of the future for Volkswagen “is the title of a financial inspection article Handelsblatt, which reminds that in Astypalea “the Greek government and the Volkswagen Group are testing integrated, climate-neutral electric propulsion programs. These include solar panels for green power generation, electric vehicles, car-sharing applications and smart, public transportation services. “Gradually and until 2026, the island will implement sustainable mobility programs and will completely renew energy production.” The newspaper notes that “Greece has ambitious climate goals, as it wants to put all lignite mines off the grid by 2028”.

For Astypalea he states that “after, a year ago, the first electric vehicles arrived on the island, now the second phase is inaugurated with the introduction smart mobility services. They will replace the traditional bus route, which until today connected minimal settlements on an island with a total area of ​​96 sq.km. Through an application, the residents of the island, but also the tourists will be able to ‘close’ itineraries with Astybus, the new vehicle sharing service. If needed, buses will also reach remote settlements. Five Volkswagen ID.Buzz vehicles will be used, which have a ‘premiere’ on the market in the fall. “Through a mobile phone and application, one can also ‘close’ rental cars, electric scooters or electric bicycles”.

The head of the Volkswagen group, Herbert Dees, tells Handelsblatt that “with car-sharing services will be reduced by one third the number of vehicles on the island, which today reach 500, as well as the number of two-wheelers, which amount to 1,000 “. 10% of the vehicles are already powered by electricity, among them is the first electric taxi VW ID.4. “In Astypalea we see, in slow motion, the evolution of mobility,” says Herbert Dees. “Here we can predict how we will move across Europe in a few years.”

DW – Giannis Papadimitriou