Hungary to promote spread of electric cars

(MTI) – Hungary’s government will promote the uptake of electric cars with tax benefits and other preferences, Economy Minister Mihaly Varga said on Thursday.

Its related package named after Anyos Jedlik will also be financed from EU funds, he said.

Jedlik (1800-1895), a Hungarian physicist, inventor and engineer was the first to develop an electrical car for which he took out a patent in 1828.

Plans are to allow environmentally friendly cars to run on bus lanes and park free of charge. The government will award a coupon suitable for purchasing environmentally friendly products to drivers who replace cars that are over 15 years old with electric vehicles, Varga said, noting this was a common practice in western Europe.

In case of public procurement, the government will favour the purchase of electric cars, for instance by the police or the postal service. The spread of electric cabs in Budapest will also be encouraged, he said.

Photo: energiaoldal.hu

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters