Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, recently introduced a new Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant, effective from January 1.
The grant will support the cost of installing a home charger for an electric vehicle up to a maximum of €600. The grant will apply to both new and second-hand electric vehicles bought from New Years' Day onwards.
Minister Naughten stated: “The Home Charger Grant is just one of the support measures aimed at promoting a low-carbon electric vehicle future. Home charging is convenient, practical and allows electric car owners to charge their cars overnight while system demand and consumer costs are low."
For owners without access to home chargers, a network of nearly 900 public charge points is available and this year funding to support the provision of additional public charging points is being made available.
There are over 3,500 electric vehicles currently in Ireland. However, ongoing technological developments, increasing battery range and falling costs will help to increase take-up among Irish drivers.
“I am working with the Minister for Transport to ensure that all new passenger cars sold in Ireland from 2030 onwards will be zero emission vehicles. The supports we put in place now will help us to achieve this," Naughten concluded.
Additional measures announced in Budget 2018 to drive uptake in electric vehicle (EV ) ownership include the continuation of the EV purchase grant (up to €5,000 ), the continuation of VRT relief, a new grant to support the use of EVs as taxis, hackneys and limousines, funding to support a reduction in tolls for EVs, and the introduction of a public engagement programme to give drivers an opportunity to drive and EV and experience the benefits for themselves.
