Neoenergia’s Green Trail Project Promises To Bring 18 More Renault Electric Cars To Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha Has the Challenge of Relying Solely on Electric Cars by 2030, and for That, Renault Is Providing 18 Electric Cars for the Island Thanks to Neoenergia’s Green Trail Project

Fernando de Noronha is on a mission to combat pollution by eliminating about a thousand combustion vehicles currently circulating in the natural paradise by 2030. The goal, outlined in the Zero Carbon Law, will begin to be implemented now with the shipment of 18 electric cars from Renault, Nissan, and other manufacturers to the district, where Neoenergia will study the best use for the electric cars in the daily life of the area. On Monday (21), Neoenergia officially launched the Green Trail, a project that will expand electric mobility by introducing 18 electric vehicles in the UNESCO-recognized Natural Heritage site.

Neoenergia’s Electric Car Project Will Receive Investments of R$ 20 Million  

In total, Renault will provide 10 electric cars, 4 buggies, two vehicles from Nissan, and another two exclusively for the company Neoenergia. It is estimated that six of these vehicles will be shipped by next month. The company’s research and development program is investing R$ 20 million to provide electric cars for local entrepreneurs and for the operational use of the company and the public authorities.

The project is named Green Trail and is regulated by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel), with support and partnership from the government of Pernambuco, WEG, Renault, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), CPqD, IATI, Incharge, and eiON. In addition to electric cars in Fernando de Noronha, the installation of two more solar power plants is also planned.

One of these units will feature a storage system for nighttime use, to ensure that the fleet’s demand is met. Additionally, 12 new ecoposts will be installed at strategic points on the island, available for all electric cars present in Fernando de Noronha.

Polluting Cars Will Not Be Allowed to Enter Fernando de Noronha Starting in 2023

By the end of next year, when the entry of new combustion vehicles to the island will be prohibited, electric cars and the energy resources used in projects will be analyzed. The collected information will undergo feasibility assessments of the business models, and soon after, a guiding map for future actions related to electric mobility on the island will be developed.

According to Saulo Cabral, president of Neoenergia Pernambuco, the Green Trail project goes far beyond simply expanding the use of electric cars from Renault and Nissan, as well as the clean energy generation systems and ecoposts. The program aims to assess the viability of business models concerning environmental, economic, and technical aspects in Fernando de Noronha.

The estimate is that the R&D project will boost sustainability in the preserved ecosystem of the island and directly contribute to the process of reducing polluting gas emissions across various economic sectors of the archipelago.

Deadline Established in the Law May Be Extended by 5 Years  

According to the law that will prevent the access of combustion vehicles to the island, the deadlines may be extended by up to 5 years if there is not sufficient technological development to ensure the distribution of renewable energy in the state district of Fernando de Noronha within the established timeframe.

The text does not clarify if there will be any form of aid for locals to purchase electric cars from Renault and Nissan, which have an average price of R$ 160 thousand. Fernando de Noronha has a total area of 26 square kilometers, and only the main part of the island already accounts for 17 square kilometers.

The projection is that there will be about 1,000 vehicles circulating on it, from trucks and buses to cars. It is important to note that when asked about the matter, the government of Pernambuco did not confirm whether it would assist in the feasibility of the measure.