Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The Government has ambitious plans for the large-scale deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. A target has been set of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020, which would equate to approximately 225,000 cars on Irish roads. Electric vehicles are an increasingly realistic solution to the challenge of reducing the transport sector's greenhouse gas emissions and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. There is now significant global investment under way in research and development in this area. The technology is maturing to a point where large-scale commercial deployment appears feasible in the short to medium term. There is keen interest at EU level and internationally in Ireland's commitment to be an early mover in this field. Ireland is seen as an excellent testbed, particularly in respect of its network infrastructure development. The challenge now is to develop economically viable options for the establishment, cost-efficient operation and maintenance of an electric vehicle infrastructure network in Ireland, together with measures to develop a market for the vehicles themselves.

ESB Networks is playing a central role in the research and development of the infrastructure network. The ESB also is playing a leading role in work by European utilities and car manufacturers to further essential standardisation across Europe. I have given my support to the current Spanish Presidency in highlighting electric vehicles as a key EU priority. I also have welcomed the recent confirmation by the European Commission that it is to begin work on the standardisation agenda. The interdepartmental-interagency task force has assessed the costed options and timeframes for putting in place the necessary infrastructure and other arrangements for the cost-effective deployment of electric vehicles on a national basis. Initial estimates by ESB Networks for the roll-out of infrastructure are between six and 18 months, depending on the scale of initial deployment. Global developments will be factored in as the technologies mature.

The introduction of incentives to assist in the roll-out of electric vehicles, as set out in budget 2010, is being furthered by my Department and the Department of Finance. As the Minister for Finance stated in his Budget Statement, it is intended that incentive systems will be in place to coincide with the arrival of the first electric vehicles later this year or at the same time as the agreed arrival of electric vehicles from a number of car manufacturers.

My Department and the ESB have already agreed a memorandum of understanding with Renault-Nissan that provides for ongoing information exchange on developments. Discussions also are under way with a number of other car manufacturers, with a view to developing memoranda of understanding with them. I understand there are several promising prospects in this regard for later this year.

See this speech in context