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Electric Mobility in Riga

First thematic workshop in Vigo 25 October, 2012

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The regional study was done in Riga Region, which consists of 28 municipalities and 2 cities with an area of 10,132 km²

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Introduction of first five electric cars for municipal services use in the Riga The use of electric cars completely

eliminates the environmental pollution caused by fuel engine exhaust gases. Car exhaust gases consist of nitrogen oxides,

carbon oxides, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, soot and solid particles, sulfur dioxide, benzol and lead. All this waste is prevented with the use of electric cars.

Considering that a large part of the Latvian electricity is produced from renewable

energy sources, use of electric cars can be listed on the green modes of transport.

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Five electric cars have been obtained with the aim to demonstrate advantages of use of electric cars in municipal technical services, having the air pollution, noise prevention and reduction of costs.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLES: Selected electronic car type is manufactured by

the Finnish company "Valmet Automotive”, designed from Norway, and already passed

performance tests in the Nordic countries. This type of car is well known in Europe as several

thousands are already sold. Cars are front-wheel drive car, with two front seats and 800 litres car

trunk. With one charging time the electric car is able to go 120 -150 km, the time spent for one charge is

6 - 8 hours, and this type of car can develop a speed of 112 km / h. The warranty period is two

years or 150 000 km. Charging is carried out in the normal grid with

capacity 220V.

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With the acceptance of Riga City Council Riga Municipal Limited Liability Company “Rigas satiksme” (hereinafter called - RS) has attracted on lease agreement basis five electric cars for use of its technical services, whose

daily work is connected to monthly run in average 2000km. Electric cars are leased from the dealer for five years and replace the cars with fuel (diesel)

engines used up to the present time. RS has registered these five cars in Road Traffic Safety Directorate register. The replacement with electric cars the

monthly maintenance costs reduction is about 80LVL compared to cars with fuel engines.

By the time being RS with the biggest electronic cars park in Republic of Latvia is an inspiring example for other municipal technical services, other

local authorities, as well as for governmental and private institutions to buy and use electric cars for their services. Wide deployment of electric cars will

reduce the urban air pollution and will lead to better living conditions for inhabitants.

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As price for fossil fuel and mixed fuel is constantly rising, use of electricity is most progressive step also

for transport sector, as there are different ways how to generate it, including friendly way using

renewable energy sources. In Riga power supply comes from common network,

to which Riga HES, Riga TEC1, Riga TEC2 and cogeneration stations with RES (biogas Ltd “Rigens”

at the water treatment plant “Daugavgrīva” and Ltd. “Getliņi EKO” at the solid waste landfill and biomass in TC “Daugavgrīva”) are connected.

The origin comes from Riga Sustainable Energy

Action Plan 2010 – 2020, which is elaborated as a commitment of Covenant of Mayors (>20-20-20 by 2020) and which prescribes the development and

implementation of electric cars and charging infrastructure.

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Currently there is no law specifically mentioned for electric cars. In Riga Municipality level the binding

rules of Riga City Council will be developed in nearest future about the parking free of charge for electric car

users.

Meanwhile there is Riga Sustainable Energy Action Plan 2010-2020, which states the need for electric cars

and respective infrastructure.

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Duration of the practise is 5 years from the lease agreement signing. All five cars are actively used for Riga parking – lot management purposes and RS transport fleet operational functions. Financial framework: 480Ls/month to Ltd “VA Latvia” Communication and awareness campaigns: 1) http://www.rea.riga.lv/jaunumi/aktualitasu-arhivs?id=522 2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzQuvT6OsXE 3) http://www.kasjauns.lv/lv/zinas/89670/rigas-satiksme-sak-piecu-jaunu-elektromobilu-ekspluataciju-foto

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PUBLIC SLOW CHARGING POINTS IN RIGA

7 – Riga 1 –Jurmala 1-Jelgava

http://www.latvenergo.lv/portal/page/portal/Latvian/latvenergo/main_page/korp_atbildi/UZ

LADES_PUNKTU_KARTE/

Scheme of fast charging points distribution is in

development stage.

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Name of the contact person for the practise: Mr Raitis Mazjanis

Deputy Director of Technical Support of Riga City Council Riga municipal limited liability company “Rigas satiksme”

Contact details: +371 29498306, raitis.mazjanis@rigassatiksme.lv

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Additionally about electric mobility in Riga: Tram – 9 tram lines with more than 250 trams fleet, which transport approx. 30% of total passengers, who use the public transport. Forms resent past trams with low floor are being introduced in Riga City transport system. Trolley – 20 trolley lines with more than 300 trolleys fleet, including approx. 200 with low floor. Trolleys transport 38% of city passengers. Bus – No electric buses run in the city of Riga. Bicycle – First selective counting in 2012 showed that there are 3500 active cyclists in the city of Riga. There is private initiative for bicycle share on the city streets, but there is no available data for accounting about electric bicycles. Car - 8 electric cars registered in Road Traffic Safety Directorate, 5 of them are for the use of Riga Municipality services, 2 are owned by energy supply company JSC “Latvenergo” and one is registered on private cars dealer. There are also hybrid cars and modified cars with electric drive in private sector, but there is no available data for accounting. Low speed electric cars for tourists transport, but there is no data available for accounting. Low speed transport with electric drive on Quadracycle basis for technical services, but there is no available data for accounting. Segway – are used for tourists, entertainment and municipal police, but there is no available data for accounting. Motorbike – no available data for accounting. Taxi – there are many taxi companies in Riga, but only one is intent to introduce electric cars for taxi services. Delivery truck –no available data for accounting.

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Thank you for your attention!

Contacts: Evita Riekstina, International Project Manager

Riga Energy Agency evita.riekstina@riga.lv

+371 67037113

This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme