Motorists urged to plug in and switch on

MOTORISTS were urged to go electric as the Government unveiled incentives aimed at increasing the number of electric cars on the road.

Minister for Energy, Communications and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan revealed the measures, backed by a target of having 10% of all vehicles run on electricity by 2020.

Anyone who buys an electric car can avail of a €5,000 grant and exemption from Vehicle Registration Tax.

The availability of the grant will operate in tandem with a new Renault and Nissan alliance to make the cars more readily available with the target of getting 2,000 electric vehicles on the roads by next year.

Also under the agreement the ESB will roll out 3,500 charge points nationwide by this December, with existing charging points in Dublin to be supplemented by other points in Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick.

Three models of electric car will be made available: Nissan’s all-electric five-seater LEAF hatchback early next year, and Renault’s light commercial vehicle, the Kangoo ZE, later in 2011, followed by 100 pre-production Fluence ZEs for a pilot project here towards the end of 2011.

That model will go on general sale in 2012.

The cars will be fitted with new lithium-ion batteries produced by Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), a joint venture between Nissan, NEC and NEC Tonkin.

The agreement announced yesterday comes after a memorandum of understanding between all the various parties agreed last April to look at the promotion of electric cars in Ireland.

Mr Ryan said the announcement proved the Government was on track regarding its targets and its pledge in the Programme for Government to revamp the energy and transport sectors.

“Irish motorists can look forward to the cash, cars and charging points that will make the electric car the smart choice for the Irish motorist,” he said.

The ESB, which also plans to install 30 fast charge points across the country by the end of 2011, with nine expected to be set up by the end of this year, said the agreement was a milestone in developing an emissions-free transport system.

ESB chief executive Padraig McManus said: “Ireland will be one of the first countries in the world to have a nationwide electric charging network which will offer opportunities for enterprise and job creation, as well as the obvious environmental benefits of ultimately having a de-carbonised transport fleet.”

The energy company will conduct trials and pilots to test the infrastructure and to examine driving trends and usage patterns.

Both Renault and Nissan hailed the new initiative, which they said would suit Ireland due to its relatively small size and average daily vehicle travel distance of 75km.