Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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289. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the spend under the Aran Islands electric vehicle project; and if he will extend the scheme elsewhere. [14179/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Aran Electric Vehicles (EV) Trial involved the operation of eight EVs for just over three years on the Aran Islands from January 2011 to April 2014. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) funded the project and engaged Merrion Fleet to supply, manage and maintain the vehicles for the trial which included the cost of data collection and reporting.  The total value of the contract was €247,000 including VAT.  The trial was part of a study to examine the potential benefits of an all electric energy system on an interconnected island.

The tests results showed that energy imports to the islands could be reduced by 68% using an EV when compared to a comparably sized diesel car.  Should the islands produce their own electricity, this number could be reduced even further.  The island community adapted very well to the use of electric vehicles and have purchased a number of EVs with more modern technology than was used in the trial.  Assuming night rate electricity, the annual cost of the electricity was estimated to be 78% cheaper than the diesel equivalent. The final report is being made available to the deputy and will be published on the SEAI website shortly.  There are currently no plans for further trials similar to the Aran Islands project.