Volkswagen to create pure-electric car utopia on Greek island

Volkswagen Group is preparing to conduct a pioneering new experiment that will see the small Greek Island of Astypalea ditch its petrol and diesel cars, buses, trucks and scooters to transition to clean zero-emission vehicles.

Announcing the ground-breaking new trial after a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Greek government in Athens, Volkswagen said the radical plan involves replacing the island's entire fleet of 1500 combustion-engined vehicles with around 1000 EVs that will be joined by a pure-electric ride-share service.

As part of the pilot program, the island's traditional vehicle hire service will be shut down and replaced by not only the ride-share service but other transport alternatives that include e-scooters from VW-owned SEAT and e-bikes.

VW says everything from commercial vehicles used by local businesses to police cars and other emergency vehicles will be battery-powered.

To cope with the influx of electric vehicles, the car-maker says it will install 230 private and public charging points across the island and ensure that all the energy used to top up zero-emission vehicles will be covered by renewable energy sources.

That means the car-maker will foot the bill to install an array of solar and wind farms that could be expanded to cover the energy needs of the entire island.

Astypalea, located in the Mediterranean in the southern Aegean Sea, covers an area of some 100 square kilometres and has a population of around 1300 permanent residents who are joined by about 72,000 tourists each year.

Currently, the island has extremely limited public transport, with just two buses operating on only a small portion of the island. All of its energy needs are met by fossil fuels.

The first VW Group vehicles to land on the island are expected to include the new Volkswagen ID.3 hatch, ID.4 SUV and the baby e-Up models, as well as battery-powered vehicles from Audi, SEAT and Skoda.

The Volkswagen Group hasn't revealed when the scheme will go live, but has confirmed it will support the project for six years.

The European auto giant has previously announced that it is investing some €33 billion ($A54bn) in e-mobility over the next five years, which will involve launching about 75 new electric models by 2029.

Commenting on the ambitious plan to transform Astypalea to an EV haven, Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess said: "Politics, business and society have a common responsibility to limit climate change.

“Our long-term goal is climate-neutral mobility for everyone. And with the Astypalea project we will explore how to realise that vision already today.

"E-mobility and smart mobility will improve the quality of life, while contributing to a carbon neutral future.”