For 120 years, the Automóvel Club de Portugal has supported the Portuguese who travel daily on the roads, not only promoting and improving mobility that aims to be safe, but also always adapting to their needs and, very importantly, to the present moment. Precisely for this reason, in recent times, the ACP has been positioning itself to “help everyone in the transition towards sustainable mobility”, as explained by Luís Figueiredo, general director of the ACP, stressing that “within the club there are the vehicles, but the people”.
Indeed, as we live in an era in which protecting the planet is increasingly crucial and in which the goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the ACP has also embraced the plan and made a commitment to sustainability. “Mobility has to stop being polluting, there are several options and possibilities, but you have to take the road,” says the official.
The ACP has a permanent program that includes various actions aimed at contributing to this purpose. From the beginning, there is a strong focus on information, having created a specific area on the ACP website at acp.pt/eletricos dedicated to electric vehicles, which includes tips for choosing the right electric vehicle.” It should be noted that both the website and the ACP magazine (both digital and quarterly in print) publish various articles and news on technological developments in general, mobility and also on micromobility.
Specific services for electrical conductors
Realizing that the way people move has changed, the ACP accompanied the change, seeking to “provide the best services to members in mobility and in life.” In this sense, as Luís Figueiredo points out, “it was the first entity to have specialized assistance for electric vehicles”. This service ensures that, if necessary, electric vehicles are charged on site or towed to a charging station. As of March 15, the service for electric vehicles will guarantee a continuous line of personalized attention for all drivers of electric cars.
In addition, among the services made available to support the transition, support for the decision to buy or rent trams, as well as the recently launched ACP Eléctrica recharging application, also stands out. Open to all drivers and with a 15% discount (with support from BP and EVIO) on the energy rate for ACP affiliates, in this application it is possible to find simulations and comparisons between stations – prices, availability, distances and types of charger depending on the vehicle – with access and management of the entire history of collections and invoices, also allowing the payment of any collection, in Portugal and abroad, as well as the memorization of routes and favorite stations.
Training
For its part, in the ACP there continues to be a growing commitment to training, now also geared towards current needs. This is the case of the new courses created for riding motorcycles in the 125 cc category, which are “four-hour courses to instill the basic rules for safe motorcycle riding and which are very important due to the increase in drivers who, In the cities, they were used to driving cars, but they also began to use 125 cc motorcycles because they do not need additional qualifications beyond the light vehicle driver’s license”, justifies the Club’s general director.
In his words, “driving training has also undergone enormous development and today not only includes the driving schools in Lisbon and Porto, integrating many other courses, from defensive driving, recovery of license points, professional courses for TVDE drivers or even psychodriving courses. for those who are afraid to drive ”, he lists.
Infographic: Joana Figueirôa
A club that has always reinvented itself
According to the official, the repositioning of the ACP is not an isolated phenomenon, rather it is part of a line that has always been followed, since “throughout its 120-year history, the ACP has always reinvented itself.” “When vehicle insurance began to include roadside assistance, the ACP not only differentiated its roadside assistance, which today is the only one that repairs breakdowns or tires on the spot or pays the mechanic in the workshop of your choice, but also diversified the services,” he said. he remembers him, and adds that “the present is no exception”, being the ACP a pioneer in providing roadside assistance for electric vehicles.
Another area of great development in recent years has been the health of members: “In addition to the doctor at home for 10 euros, there are many other services and advantages, such as a free health plan for members or home support for patients . And older”. On the other hand, insurance mediation services and others related to the home are also available and offer numerous discounts.
Finally, Luís Figueiredo lists the advantages in the area of leisure and passions, noting that the club promotes “motor sports, trips and excursions, the classic car club, the golf club -which is already the largest club in Portuguese golf – and the most recent, the motorhome”, which also responds to a growing demand on the part of the Portuguese.
Source: Observadora
