Written answers

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Electronic Vehicles

9:00 pm

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress on the rollout of electronic vehicles; if the infrastructure for electric vehicles will also support plug in hybrid vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37791/10]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Government has set a target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020, which equates to around 225,000 vehicles. Ireland aims to be at the forefront of electric vehicle technology developments and my Department is working with relevant Departments and Agencies to ensure that the necessary structures and initiatives are in place to meet this target.

Last April I signed an Agreement with the Renault Nissan Alliance and ESB which underpins Ireland as one of the European leaders in electric transport. The Agreement, building on the Memorandum of Understanding last year, includes the development of a nationwide electric car charging infrastructure, the continued sharing of technical and market data between the parties and the early supply of electric cars into the Irish market by Renault and Nissan from next year.

Progress has also been made in discussions with other major motor manufacturers to make early production vehicles available to the Irish market and I expect that other agreements will be developed in the foreseeable future.

The Electric Vehicle (EV) grant scheme, which is due to commence in January 2011, will provide for grants of up to €5,000 for full battery electric vehicles and up to €2,500 for plug in hybrid electric vehicles. This scheme, which is subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance, will provide grants for up to 6,000 vehicles over a two year period and will be administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The scheme is being finalised with the Department of Finance.

In February 2011, Nissan will begin to supply its all-electric, LEAF hatchback to the car market in Ireland. A number of other car manufacturers have indicated that they will also be launching electric vehicles into the market later in 2011 and in 2012.

The ESB will roll out 1,500 charge points on a nationwide basis by December 2011. These charge points will support both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The rollout has already begun with 12 on street charge points, 15 domestic charge points and 13 industrial chargers already installed. The roll out of these charge points will accelerate towards year end, in anticipation of the first production EVs from major manufacturers coming to market in early 2011. It is anticipated that approximately 200 public charge points will be in place by year end. ESB also plans to install up to 30 fast charge points across Ireland by the end of 2011, with nine expected to be set up by the end of this year.

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