EU – Baltic States, Good for Business, Latvia, Technology, Transport

Drive Electric Latvia is a marketing program using Electric Vehicles as a catalyst for increasing incoming tourism, length of stay and regional exploration. In Latvia, it brings together key stakeholders of the Latvian Tourism Development Agency, Riga Airport, rental car companies, municipal tourism offices, tourist attractions, activity service providers, hotels, cafes, restaurants and destinations of specific interest.

“It is a multi-dimensional project that exemplifies Latvia as the global leader in eMobility systems, deploying the most advanced mobile Apps and transaction systems available anywhere. Drive Electric Latvia will be the first commercial scale project globally to implement "digital wallet" technology into electric vehicle charging stations,” said Ashely Abraham, an internationally recognised eMobility expert in Latvia, Electromobility Consultant of Digital City Limited.

Mobile technologies will be exploited for directions to Electric Vehicles charging stations at hotels and attraction sites. RFID (Radio-frequency identification) and/or NFC (Near Field Communication) from the mobile device will be used to authorise electricity free of charge to Drive Electric Latvia program subscribers. Semi-public charging stations will use RFID for authentication and authorisation purposes. All electricity will be provided free of charge at 7.2kW slow charging (3-4 hours) to encourage minimum stay and spend at destinations.

“Latvian tourism brand is “Best Enjoyed Slowly” and project Drive Electric Latvia supports it and are in line with our marketing strategy. The project will have many benefits not only for tourism industry but for regional development as well and I would name only few of them, such as better export potential for products and services, adding additional value to currently available services, development of new tourism services,” said Armands Slokenbergs, Director of Latvian Tourism Development Agency.

“As a project partner Riga International Airport is ready to offer an extensive marketing support in order to ensure that all inbound and outbound passengers and friends and relatives visiting Riga airport do not leave the airport unaware of "Drive Electric Latvia"”, said Arturs Saveljevs, Director of Commercial Department SJSC RIGA International Airport.

Ireland already has a head start with an installed base of EV charging stations. But Latvia could catch up quickly with destinations and municipalities installing electric vehicle charging stations using the current KPFI program with subsidies for hardware and installation of between 50 and 70%.

“It is hoped to establish deep co-operation on this program between Latvia and Ireland, leading to commercial relationships to the benefit of both states. Latvia is currently missing an eMobility Network Operation Centre (NOC), which in the near term can be through licensed access to Ireland's system, the same as is currently done with the two charging stations at the European Commission in Brussels,” said Senan McGrath, Chief Technology Officer of ESB eCars.

Drive Electric Latvia is supported by main leading international car rental companies in Latvia such as Europcar, Avis, Sixt and Hertz as well as by well known car manufacturers represented in Latvia by Moller Motors, Volkswagen and Nissan dealerships Nordea and Skandi Motors, which offered test drives after the luncheon.