Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

563. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the targets for electric vehicle usage here for 2020; and how close Ireland is to meeting its targets for overall EV usage including public transport and for private EV usage. [41220/15]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

568. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the estimated reduction in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions if Ireland meets its 2020 targets for electric vehicle usage, both including and excluding public transport. [41491/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 568 together.

The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heating and 10% of transport power from renewable sources. Ireland aims to meet its renewable transport target mainly through the use of sustainable biofuels, with increasing usage of electric vehicles also making a contribution.

Ireland's third National Energy Efficiency Action Plan to 2020 estimates that approximately 50,000 electric vehicles (EVs) could form part of the transport fleet in 2020. However, the extent to which electric vehicles are adopted in the short-to-medium term will depend on a range of factors including, inter alia, the strength of the economy, the overall numbers of new cars being purchased, the cost of purchasing and running electric vehicles compared to fossil fuel comparators, and the number of different electric vehicle models available to purchase. There are signs that these factors are improving and in 2015, 541 EVs have been supported through the Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme which represents over half of the total of 1,076 supported since the programme began in 2011.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, who administers the Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme, estimate that the current fleet size is now 1,100 EVs, which will provide an annual saving of 864 tonnes CO2. 50,000 EVs operating today would deliver annual CO2 savings of 39,000 tonnes compared with the today's new fossil fuel equivalents.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

564. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has analysed the financial incentives for consumers switching from vehicles powered by diesel or petrol to vehicles powered by electricity; and if he will provide details of this analysis and its conclusions. [41221/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On the issue of the charging infrastructure, I have no function in this matter. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent regulator. Ahead of the introduction of the Electric Vehicles Scheme in 2011, a cost benefit analysis was undertaken in relation to electric vehicles incentives. Findings included:

- Whilst Electric Vehicles have a significantly lower annual running cost, because of their higher purchase price compared with vehicles powered entirely by fossil fuels, they have a higher nominal life cycle cost;

- Electric Vehicles offer major fuel efficiency gains as well as the opportunity for Ireland to exploit its renewable energy resources. Deployment of Battery EVs (BEVs) and Plug in Hybrid EVs (PHEVs) provides an opportunity to reduce the level of CO2 emissions beyond that currently possible with even the most efficient vehicles powered entirely by fossil fuels. Essentially, by shifting to EVs, the potential to energise vehicles with 100% renewable energy becomes possible.

It should be noted that this report was based on 6,000 EVs being grant aided between 2011 and 2012 and over 200,000 EVs forming part of the national fleet by 2020.