Drivers to be given insight into EV driving at Cork event

EV information day to take place in Tramore Valley Park from 1pm on Saturday

Irish EV Association vice-chair Annette Conway: 'There is a belief that EVs may be more expensive upfront but are actually cheaper if you are doing a good distance.' Picture: Chani Anderson

Drivers wondering about the leap to electric vehicles (EVs) are being encouraged to attend an event in Cork this weekend to test drive and speak to existing owners to gauge their experience.

Tramore Valley Park will host the information day from 1pm on Saturday that will see EV drivers bring their own cars along, as well as dealer Keary's, to allow would-be owners to find out as much as they can before buying one themselves.

Irish EV Association vice-chair Annette Conway said it was a chance encounter that changed her entire outlook nine years ago.

Spotting a driver at her Nissan Leaf, Ms Conway picked the woman's brain about her experience with the EV, and in her own words, "has never looked back".

Ms Conway, a chemical engineer with Pfizer in Ringaskiddy, said: "I had been researching it for about five years and I met a woman one day in Ballincollig with a Nissan Leaf. I asked her how she was getting on and within six months, I had bought one.

It was getting that feel from somebody who owns one that it is actually doable, that range anxiety is not an issue anymore, and that it is more convenient and cheaper to run. 

"There is a belief that EVs may be more expensive upfront but are actually cheaper if you are doing a good distance.

"When it comes to maintenance, I have had no issues in nine years. I'm one of the early adopters and I've never looked back. I barely use the public charging network, mostly charging my car at home. If I use the public charging network five or six times a year, it would be a lot for me."

The Irish EV Association information day, in partnership with Cork City Council, will see those on the fence about making the switch from petrol and diesel cars encouraged to test drive cars as well as discovering the latest in EV technology, with the aim of enjoying a fun-filled day with friends and family.

Models from various EVs will be supplied by Keary's, while experts will be on hand to answer any questions.

"Whether you're an EV enthusiast or just curious about EVs, this event is a perfect opportunity to learn, have fun, and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future," the Irish EV Association said.

The association is now made up of about 18,000 members alone on Facebook while in Cork, there is the Facebook page Cork Rebel EV Owners.

The Government's own target of nearly 950,000 on the road by 2030 is currently seen as unlikely, according to experts.

While there has been a significant uptick in sales in recent years, the lack of a second-hand market and the cutting of the grant are seen as some of the barriers to the 950,000 ambition.

Ms Conway, from Ballinora, said one fact "stunned" her when she was researching EVs and fossil fuel cars.

"I took a litre of petrol and worked it out on paper how much in volume of carbon it would emit. It generates 1,200 litres of CO2. So for every 1,000 litres of petrol we put into our car, that's 1.2 million litres of CO2 into the atmosphere. That tells it all, it's incredible how much we pollute that we don't realise," she said.