Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades told CNA on Tuesday that he was pleased by the interest and response of the public to the grant schemes for the purchase of an electric vehicle, adding that that the optimistic target of 80,000 electric vehicles by 2030 now seems achievable.

"We are pleased with the interest shown by people. We have to admit that it has exceeded our expectations. It shows that the public has understood the benefits of electric mobility and that's why they are moving with such interest in this direction," Vafeades said.

According to data released earlier today by the Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, a total of 2,254 applications had been received by Tuesday morning since the application process opened on Saturday.

Vafeades said that the big changes in the electric mobility sector are expected to take place when the purchase cost of electric vehicles is further reduced, which "we expect to happen in 2025-2026".

He noted, however, that "the response we are seeing now is very encouraging in terms of reaching the target of 80,000 by 2030."