Objectives of the Electric Vehicles Grant Scheme
The target is to achieve 6,000 passenger vehicles in operation in Ireland by 2012. This target has been set in order to generate the critical mass necessary to assist Ireland in achieving its overall goal of ensuring that 10% of all vehicles (equivalent to 230,000 vehicles) are electric by 2020.
Ireland has substantial resources of wind and ocean energy accessible to it. In contrast only modest reserves of gas and oil have so far been identified in Irish waters. By storing these intermittent supplies of wind and ocean power, highly efficient Electric Vehicles therefore offer Ireland the opportunity to supply a significant proportion of its transport energy needs from its own energy resources while substantially reducing the associated CO2 footprint.
Advances in Lithium battery technology has led to the current development of passenger electric vehicles by mainstream suppliers such as Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi. With ranges of 160km on a single domestic overnight charge and fuel cost savings of up to 70% based on night time electricity prices, the fleet of vehicles emerging will have significant appeal to consumers. More information on the electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles will be available shortly from our soon to be published 'Guide to Electric Vehicles' which will be available to download here on the website.
In addition, ESB will be providing free connection points in the home of each of the first 2,000 vehicles purchased. Up to 1,500 public street charging points with 30 fast charging points will be installed by the end of 2011. For more information on charging points visit http://www.esb.ie/main/sustainability/ESB-ecars.jsp.
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