Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
426. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport his plans to assist companies to replace their car fleet at the earliest possible date given that it has been established that by removing all cars in excess of 15 years old off the roads it will deliver 20% reduction in emissions from cars by 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20297/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that there is a range of incentives place to support the uptake of EVs, including commercial vehicles. These include:
- EV Purchase grant scheme (vans and light trucks up to €3,800);
- Home Charger grant scheme - up to a maximum of €600
- VRT relief of up to €5,000 for the purchase of BEVs and up to €2,500 for PHEVs;
- Benefit-in-Kind tax relief for battery electric vehicles;
- Grants of up to €20,000 to support the purchase of electric vehicles in the taxi/hackney/limousine sector, with the highest level of grant available where older taxis are being scrapped;
- 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.
More information is available at .www.drivingelectric.ie.
My Department is also working closely with a number of key stakeholders, including Local Government, to ensure electric vehicle charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand.
The Electric Vehicle Policy Pathway Working Group was convened to produce a roadmap to achieving the near one million EV target by 2030 and to continue the concerted efforts across several Departments to hasten the current trajectory of EV sales, including commercial sales. The Working Group has considered regulatory, financial and taxation policies to help drive a significant ramp-up in passenger EVs and electric van sales from very early in the decade.
Finally, the Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government published in June last year, commits to publishing an electric vehicles infrastructure strategy. Once completed, the strategy will provide a key framework for ensuring we continue to have sufficient infrastructure in place to keep ahead of demand, while also ensuring that appropriate planning and development guidelines are followed in providing the necessary capacity. It is envisaged that the strategy will be published this year.
