Number of electric and hybrid cars in Moldova increases
Electric and hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular in Moldova, with their numbers growing significantly in recent years, according to data from the State Transport Registry.
However, in 2023, more than 20,000 of the total number of registered vehicles will have a high level of pollution.
The authorities have announced that green transition is a priority for the government and have said that they will be drafting several legislative acts to reduce air pollution levels.
This year, over 25,000 cars have been registered, according to the Public Services Agency, which, in the opinion of environmental experts, is an alarming figure with a negative impact on air pollution. To encourage green transport, new licence plates for electric vehicles with green symbols will soon be put into circulation. At the same time, the state has established reduced taxes on the import of hybrid vehicles.
According to statistical data from the State Transport Registry, in 2023, 25,136 cars were registered, of which 611 are electric, an increase of 569 from 2018. Also, 4,471 cars with hybrid engines were registered, about a thousand more than in 2018.
Iulia Dascălu, a member of the Parliamentary Commission on Environment, Climate and Green Transition, told Radio Moldova that the green transition is not just a condition for Moldova's accession to the European Union, but also a duty and responsibility of every citizen.
“The purpose of this event is actually to raise awareness among local public authorities, the government, and all citizens of Moldova that we need to find alternative sources to avoid cars with engines, because to a large extent they are the ones that pollute the environment. Many things are being done, work is underway on draft laws to reduce the situation we referred to today with regard to environmental pollution,” said Iulia Dascălu.
During the European Mobility Week, dozens of students of different ages gathered in front of Parliament to promote green transport through a flash mob. The students say that organising such events are important to create a healthier environment.
“We all built ecological transport, we have to opt for non-polluting transport, for example to build a bicycle path.”
“We made a presentation in the Parliament plenary about the causes and consequences of the excessive use of polluting transport and we brought as many solutions as possible. And one of them is, yes, promoting as much as possible of the alternative transport – ecological,” the students say.
Annually, on September 22, at the initiative of the European Commission, the International Car-Free Day is celebrated, promoting non-polluting means of transportation. Studies show that exhaust gases are the main source of air pollution, which affects human health and contributes to the greenhouse effect.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
