Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 February 2024
23. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if any consideration has been given to extending the low emissions vehicle toll incentive since it ceased at the end of December to continue to incentivise the transition to EVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9545/24]
View answerProviding a sustainable, low-carbon transport system is a key priority of my Department.
The ‘Low Emissions Vehicle Toll Incentive (LEVTI) Scheme’ concluded on the 31st of December 2023. Originally scheduled to close in 2022, LEVTI was extended until December 31st, 2023, and available for the first 50,000 eligible vehicles. There are no plans to reintroduce this scheme.
This is consistent with our Climate Action Plan targets and EU regulatory requirements whereby we move Exchequer supports for fleet electrification towards building out EV charging infrastructure . This change also aligns with similar polices in European nations, where countries including Norway, Germany and France have begun to taper vehicle subsidies and shift government investment towards infrastructure.
Ireland still compares favourably to our European counterparts with generous purchase incentives, low rates of Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and BIK for BEVs and a low rate of motor tax for lower emitting vehicles.
€115.8m has been allocated in 2024 to ensure the continued transition to electric vehicles which includes funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. This underpins the Government’s commitment to making electric vehicles accessible to all.
Current financial supports from ZEVI, and where applicable with support from the Department of Finance, for the transition to electric vehicles and for the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure include:
• A purchase grant for battery electric vehicles (BEVs);
• A Home Charger purchase grant scheme;
• An apartment charger scheme;
• Benefit-in-Kind tax relief for battery electric vehicles;
• Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) relief of up to €5000 for BEVs;
• eSPSV grant scheme – a grant for taxi drivers to make the switch to an EV;
• ZEHDV grant scheme – a grant for HDVs to bridge the gap between a low emission vehicle and a fossil fuel vehicle; and
• Low rate of annual motor tax;
Budget 2024 saw the extension of the current VRT for a further two years. EVs with a value of €40,000 will continue to pay no VRT, while the tapering relief between €40,000 and €50,000 also remains in place.
In addition, there has been an extension of the EV tapering mechanism applied to BIK relief for Electric Vehicles of €35,000 to end 2025, €20,000 in 2026 and €10,000 in 2027
These and related infrastructure supports will continue to incentivise the switch to electric vehicles as well as enabling the expansion of a fast and rapid electric vehicle charging network to stay ahead of demand.
