Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
548. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which efforts are being made to maximise the production and use of electric cars by way of replacement for existing petrol or diesel models; the extent to which this will impact on emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53465/18]
View answerThe National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland was published in May of last year. It set out the ambition that by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero-emissions capable. The National Development Plan, published in February of this year, raised this ambition such that no new non-zero emission cars would be sold in Ireland post 2030.
The Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce, co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, examined measures and options available to Government to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles and how best to support the development of the electric vehicle charging. The first phase of the Taskforce's work, which focused on electric vehicles, is now complete and the progress report is available on my Department’s website. The work of the Taskforce, has led to an expanded range of supports for electric vehicles, which include:
- the EV purchase grant of up to €5,000;
- VRT relief of up to €5,000 for the purchase of Battery Electric Vehicles and up to €2,500 for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles;
- Benefit-in-Kind tax relief for Battery Electric Vehicles;
- Home Charger grant of up to €600 towards the cost of the installation of a domestic charge point;
- Grants of up to €7,000 for EVs for the taxi sector;
- Accelerated Capital Allowances for businesses;
- Low rate of annual motor tax; and
- Tolling reductions of 50% for Battery Electric Vehicles and 25% for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
In addition, earlier this year a new Electric Vehicle Public Awareness Campaign was launched by the SEAI. This campaign includes an advertising campaign and website www.DrivingElectric.ie providing information on buying and driving an EV including the models available and links to dealers to arrange a test drive.
Last month, I announced the successful projects under the first Call for Applications from the Climate Action Fund. I approved funding of up to €10 million to a project from ESB eCars that will develop a nationwide, state-of-the-art electric vehicle fast charging network capable of facilitating large-scale electric vehicle uptake over the next decade. Further details on this project, and the other projects approved from the fund, are available on my Department's website at www.dccae.gov.ie. In addition, my Department, in conjunction with the SEAI, is working on how best to support the provision of greater levels of on-street public charging.
This year has seen significant growth in the number of electric vehicles. There are currently circa 7,500 electric vehicles on Ireland’s roads, which represent almost a doubling of the number of these vehicles at the end of 2017.
Provisional data published by the EPA indicates that 11.5 million tonnes of carbon were emitted by the road transport sector in 2017. Private car use is the largest single contributor to these emissions. With over two million private cars on the road in Ireland, the impact of the current level of electric vehicles on emission reduction is limited. However, the increasing use of electric vehicles, along with increases in electricity production from renewable sources, has the potential to contribute to a significant reduction in carbon emissions. It will also assist in reducing emissions of air pollutants associated with diesel and petrol vehicles, such as fine particulate matter, which have a detrimental impact on both human health and environmental ecosystems.
