21 Jul Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland Launch Announcement
The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan T.D. today announced a number of grants and initiatives to make it easier for people and businesses to make the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) during the launch of Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland. This new dedicated Office will oversee Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles and more sustainable transportation, working across government, industry, and society to support this transition.
Operations will include:
- supports for the uptake of zero emission vehicles
- infrastructure delivery through funding and policy guidance
- strategy and policy lead, including taxation and regulation, research and innovation
- communications and public and stakeholder engagement
In total, Minister Ryan announced four new grant schemes and initiatives. Among them is a new apartment charging grant which will make it easier for people who live in apartments and multi-unit dwellings to charge an EV. He also announced an expansion to the home charger grant which will enable any tenants and homeowners to apply for a grant, whether they own an EV or not. This can also be used for visitor use or at rented accommodation.
A new trial to promote and encourage the electrification of the commercial fleet was also announced, giving businesses the opportunity to test an EV free of charge for at least three months. There will be new funding to install a network of publicly accessible chargers at sports clubs across the island of Ireland for members and visitors. See below for a full outline of the new grants and initiatives announced.
Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland’s principal focus is to enable the delivery of the ambitious electric vehicle targets under the Climate Action Plan. To ensure a fair and equitable transition to large scale zero emission vehicle use, the full range of needs for people and businesses across Ireland must be met, including ensuring a just transition for those in rural, Gaeltacht and Islands area. The existing and future EV charging infrastructure network must be accessible, safe and secure, benefiting communities and serving the needs of all citizens, including older people and people with disabilities.
Irish people are increasingly moving to electric vehicles. There has been an increase in the purchase of EVs in Ireland so far this year, with 21% of new cars licenced being electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles compared with 14% at this time last year.
Speaking about Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, Minister Ryan said:
“We have to transform the way we get around our country so that we do not rely on expensive, carbon emitting and polluting fossil fuels. One of the ways we can help decarbonise our transport sector is by accelerating the uptake of electric vehicles, both passenger cars and the commercial fleet. This new Office will be at the heart of this transformation, charged with supporting consumers, the public sector and businesses to continue to make the switch to electric vehicles and to lead on the delivery of our ambitious target under the Climate Action Plan 2021 to have 945,000 electric vehicles in the Irish fleet by 2030.
We are already seeing that there is an appetite for this switch with the increases in the purchase of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles over the past year. I hope that the grants and initiatives we are launching today, along with Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, will make it easier for people and businesses to continue to make the switch and then to be able to charge their cars, no matter where they live.”
Key ZEVI grants and initiatives launching today
• Launch of the Apartment Charging Grant
The EV Apartment Charging grant is being launched today, for dwellings which do not have access to a driveway such as apartments, duplexes as well as mixed developments. Further information can be found on SEAI website here.
• Enhanced EV Home Charger Grant
The EV Home Charger grant is also being expanded from today. This will enable any tenants and homeowners to apply for a grant, whether they own an EV or not. This can also be used for visitor use or also at rented accommodation. Further information can be found on the SEAI page here.
• EV Smart Charger Register
From September 2022 the Home Charger grant will only apply to the installation of Smart Chargers (which EasyGo install). This will improve safety, prevent excessive electrical demand and facilitate better integration with renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
VEHICLES:
• EV Commercial Fleet Trial
A new trial is being launched today to promote and encourage the electrification of the commercial fleet in Ireland. This trial will give businesses the opportunity to test an EV free of charge for a minimum period of three months. Its purpose is to demonstrate at first hand, the benefits, savings, suitability and viability of EVs in a commercial setting. To apply or for more information see the SEAI website here.
ZEVI Initiatives Coming Soon and In Progress
• Destination Charging Grant for Sports Clubs
The Shared Island Sports Club grant will provide funding to install a network of publicly accessible chargers in communities nationwide through their local sports clubs subject to certain eligibility criteria. This grant, will operate on an all-island basis for ROI and NI and provide grant funding via National Sports Governing Bodies to eligible sports clubs and centres to help defray the cost of installing publicly accessible EV charge points.
• EV Charging Infrastructure
The draft National EV Strategy underwent public and stakeholder consultation earlier this year, with over 14,000 responses to the online questionnaire along with detailed written submissions from both individuals and organisations. Responses and submissions are currently being considered in the development of the final Strategy for publication later this year. The final Strategy will also include an Implementation Plan that will set out a pathway for delivery of a high quality national EV charging Infrastructure.
• Re-opening of Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (eSPSV) grant
The aim of the eSPSV grant is to enable owners of small public service vehicles, such as taxis, hackneys and limousines, to buy electric vehicles, championing the electric experience for passengers and drivers in Ireland. Approximately €15m was allocated in 2022 to support SPSVs to switch to electric. The scheme is kept under continuous review and was paused to new applicants in April to allow for the drawdown and payment of provisional grant offers which usually have a time limit of three months. The scheme will now reopen for applications on 1st August 2022 and is managed by the NTA.
• eVans
Expansion of the current electric vans grant to include large panel vans will be announced later this year.
This is a fantastic announcement which EasyGo welcomes and will help to deliver with our leading EV charging solutions for homes, businesses and our public network.