Cyprus has passed a new law to protect its electric car charging stations. From now on, drivers who park in these special spots without charging their car will have to pay an €85 fine. This rule is for all types of cars, including both petrol and diesel cars and even electric cars that are not plugged in.
The goal is to solve a big problem for electric vehicle (EV) owners. Often, they cannot charge their cars because the spots are taken by other vehicles. This has made many people angry and has slowed down the country's plan for cleaner transport.
The new law was proposed by a Green Party politician, Stavros Papadouris, and was supported by other political parties. It has a very clear rule: an electric car is only using the spot correctly if its charging cable is connected to the station. Simply parking an EV in the spot is not enough and will result in the fine. This fine is the same as the one for driving in a bus lane.
Papadouris said this was a simple but important step to make sure the facilities are used properly. The law is a direct answer to many complaints from citizens. The problem of blocked charging points has been a major reason why some people do not want to buy an electric car.
The law applies to all public charging areas in Cyprus. The government still needs to explain exactly how the fine will be enforced and when the law will officially start. By doing this, authorities hope to create a more reliable charging network and encourage more people to choose electric cars.