Actual ideas for the easing of city traffic jams do exist and those have been already implemented across several countries. For instance, more than one passenger per car is encouraged, within separate lanes, let’s say. Companies pay extra money to their employees, if those use bicycles and not cars. Researches show that the commissioning of each shared, i.e. rent-an-electric-car means four normal vehicles less in the streets.

The Bulgarian Electric Vehicles Association /BEVA/ has been developing a project for the installment of 5 free quick charging electric stations at key spots in Sofia. The electric cars will be able to recharge within 30 – 40 minutes. It is being worked for the placing of such stations along the Thrace highway as well with the hope that as of next year the Sofia – Burgas distance shall be covered with two 30-minute-long recharging sessions. Thus the electric cars will be not only city vehicles – their main restriction right now. Pilot projects for shared cars are being developed in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas.

“The motivation for the transition from conventional vehicles to the electric ones is a combination of economic benefits and the increased sensitivity towards the polluted city environment, said in an interview for RB President of BEVA Angel Nikolov. The initial higher price of electric vehicles is compensated by the lower fuel consumption – EUR 1 per 100 km for electricity. This means 1 liter of gasoline per 100 km for the conventional cars. Besides that the overall maintenance is cheaper. Our estimates show that with over 20,000 km covered per year, or 55 km per day on average the electric vehicle is more profitable in terms of maintenance.”

Measures for encouragement of electromobility across the big municipalities in Bulgaria have been implemented – no road tax, free parking spots in Sofia and several other cities. This is what Angel Nikolov further says:

“According to the National Action Plan 2014 the public procurements for electric cars and infrastructure had to be 6 percent. A check with the respective institution shows that only 5 such procurements were registered there, which is really not enough. The state institutions themselves should start giving example by aiming at a certain percentage of the new vehicles to be electric ones. This is the law, but reality is different.”

What are your forecasts on the future of transport in Bulgaria?

“I hope that 5 percent of the vehicles in this country will be electric ones within 5 years’ time. That would be really nice, as those will be spotted along the streets. The current paradox is that electric vehicles are few at the moment and remain unnoticed due to the lack of noise and pollution around them. We will be also glad to see successful projects for shared electric cars, as this would be the main tool for popularization of electromobility. If people have the chance to rent those in a profitable manner, they would consider the idea on their next car being an electric one.”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev