Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 November 2017
413. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount that his Department has allocated to a scheme to encourage the use of electric vehicles among taxi drivers for 2018. [51003/17]
View answerI was delighted to secure funding as part of Budget 2018 to support a range of low carbon transport options, including the transition of our SPSV (Taxi/Hackney/Limousine) sector to electric vehicles. This sector plays a vital role in championing the use of electric vehicles to members of the public, and in reducing harmful tailpipe emissions particularly across our urban areas.
€5.5m is allocated in 2018 and €29m from 2019-2021 for the Carbon Reduction Programme to fund measures to support decarbonising the transport sector.
A ‘Green Public Transport Fund’ will support use of low carbon technology in the public transport fleet e.g. emerging low emission technologies, particularly for buses. The fund will bridge the price differential between conventional and alternative fuelled vehicles and infrastructure.
Funding will also be targeted in support of the LEV Taskforce’s efforts to increase electric vehicle (EV) uptake e.g. encouraging the transition of the national taxi fleet to alternative technologies including the new EV Taxi Grant and introduction of a tolling incentive.
The electric SPSV grant scheme will be administered on behalf of the Department by the National Transport Authority (NTA). Opening to applicants from 01 February 2018, the electric SPSV grant scheme will be available nationwide and will offer a grant of up to €7,000 for the purchase of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) and up to €3,500 for the purchase of a plug in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). Second hand electric vehicles will also be eligible for the scheme (at pro rata reduced grant rates) up to a maximum age of 6 years.
The scheme can be used in conjunction with an existing range of supports including the NTA WAV grant scheme in the case of an electric WAV; and the SEAI commercial grant scheme for new electric vehicles.
Further details of the electric SPSV grant scheme will be made available on the NTA website and SPSV industry newsletter.
