Astypalea: smart and sustainable island
The Hellenic Republic and the Volkswagen Group will create a pioneering transport system in Astypalea. To this end, the current transport system on the island will be replaced with the use of electric vehicles, while a large part of the electricity demand for the island will be covered by renewable electricity energy sources, such as solar systems. In the long run, Astypalea will become a model island towards climate-neutral mobility. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on November 4, 2020, in Athens and Wolfsburg, by Mr. Konstantinos Fragogiannis, Deputy Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, respectively. New mobility services, such as vehicle sharing, will help reduce and optimize traffic. The energy will be produced mainly from local green energy sources, such as solar systems. The project will last six years, based on the first planning.
I firmly believe in collaborations. Goverments cannot suceed on their own and the private sector cannot be the answer to every question.This is the reason why this ambitious endeavour is the result of close cooperation between the Hellenic Republic and the Volkswagen Group. A world leader in the automotive industry that aims to make both its vehicle fleet and its company, carbon-neutral by 2050, in partnership with us, a European nation in complete transformation.
Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said: “Politicians, businesses and society have a shared responsibility to reduce climate change. Our long-term goal is 100% climate-neutral mobility for all. The Astypalea project will show that this is already possible today. Electric mobility and smart mobility will improve the quality of life, while contributing to a carbon-neutral future. ”
Mr. Konstantinos Fragogiannis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated: “Today is a wonderful day for Astypalea, the Dodecanese Region, the Aegean Sea and all of Greece. Today we start the first “Smart Green Island” program in our country, which marks a significant change for our future. Electric mobility and a holistic, green and sustainable action plan will have a positive impact on the daily lives of the island's inhabitants. Combined with an innovative public transport system, we can turn futuristic ideas into reality. Today, Greece shows that it is ready to adopt pioneering, innovative and iconic investments that lead society to a new level of connectivity, smart sustainability and effortless usability.
Mr Antonis Mavridoglou, CEO of Kosmocar, stated: "The decision of the Hellenic Republic and the Volkswagen Group to make Astypalea the first model island in Europe, where transport will be smart and friendly for residents and its visitors, with a neutral climate footprint, is particularly important for our country and the Volkswagen Group. We at Kosmocar, as the Volkswagen’s official representative in Greece for 50 years now, are proud of our contribution to this important endeavour.“
The Volkswagen Group is committed to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and intends to become climate neutral by 2050, and thus has developed a "goTOzero" sustainability strategy.
