Charging point incentives could ramp up electric vehicle sales

Ireland has an opportunity to position itself as a leader in an emerging technology, or perhaps a re-emerging one, writes Brian Lucey.

All it takes is political vision, a willingness to face down some entrenched local vested interests and a desire to make a change. This, of course, means it won’t happen, but we can dream.

Electric cars are not new. They predate by half a century the combustion motor, with model electric cars made in Hungary in 1828 and in Vermont in 1834. The middle and late 19th century saw an explosion of electric trams, cars, trains and so on. Even the Ford Motor Company, along with Edison, made significant investments in electric cars.