The Port of Barcelona has invested €926,000 (US$1.09 million) in an initiative aimed at promoting electrical mobility around the port area.

According to the port, the first part of the project is a €692,000 (US$819,000) investment in a fleet of 31 electric vehicles to replace older units powered by diesel or petrol. The fleet consists of 17 Nissan Leaf 30kwh cars, eight Nissan e-NV200 vans and six BMW C Evolution scooters. Additionally, the port has leased three Volkswagen Passat Hybrid vehicles.

The second part of the project is a €234,000 (US$277,000) investment in the design and construction of 47 charging points for the electric vehicles in various areas across the port area.

“As a public entity, we want to promote sustainability with concrete initiatives, such as those we are presenting today, and we want to be leaders so that other entities and companies in the port community can join this change,” said Sixte Cambra [right in photo], president of the Port of Barcelona.

Under the port’s electrical mobility plan, new electric or hybrid vehicles will be introduced over the next few years, up to a total of 70 units by 2024. The port’s fleet of vehicles consists of approximately 100 units, but some such as those used for firefighting or industrial purposes cannot yet be replaced by electrical units.

The promotion of electric mobility is part of the port’s Air Quality Improvement Plan. Launched in 2016, the plan includes actions such as the promotion of liquefied natural gas as a fuel and a discount policy for the most environmentally friendly vessels, according to the Port of Barcelona.