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Electric Vehicles

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Questions (170)

Joan Collins

Question:

170. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport the actions under the Climate Action Plan that are in place to facilitate electric car charging points in areas in which there are no gardens to accommodate them; and the timeline to accommodate persons wanting to move from fossil fuel to electric vehicles. [58490/21]

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Written answers

The Government’s policy regarding the increased usage of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is primarily driven by the Climate Action Plan which sets a target of 945,000 EVs by 2030.

Home charging is considered the primary method of charging for the majority of EVs in Ireland and is a convenient, cost effective and environmentally friendly means of charging, especially when using night rate electricity. It accounts for circa 80% of EV charging sessions and will continue to be the primary method of charging in the future. The EV Home Charger Grant Scheme has been in operation since January 2018 to support the installation of home chargers for purchasers of new and second-hand BEVs and PHEVs. The grant provides generous support towards the full cost of installation of a home charger up to a maximum of €600.

However, there are houses and dwellings in Ireland where home charging is not an option, due to the lack of driveway or garden. Work is currently being progressed to expand the EV home charger grant to include shared parking in apartment blocks and similar developments. My Department is working closely with the SEAI and expects a scheme for apartments to open in the near future.

The recently published Climate Action Plan 21 includes a number of actions to facilitate the increased provision of EV charging infrastructure, much of which will be targeted at providing charging solutions for those without access to home chargers. These include

- Establish an Office for Low Emitting Vehicles to co-ordinate the implementation of existing and future EV measures and infrastructure

- Develop a national infrastructure strategy to address on-street, location and fastcharging infrastructure needs to stay ahead of demand, having particular regard to non-urban needs

- Enable greater EV infrastructure roll-out for passenger cars and vans

- Launch a Destination Charger Scheme to install publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure

- Amend the Home Charger Grant Scheme to include apartment

A national ambition has been firmly established that by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero-emission capable. In addition to the above actions, the Climate Action Plan outlines a pathway to a radical and equitable transformation in Ireland’s transport sector over the next nine years as it moves towards decarbonisation.

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