Steady as she goes as switch to EVs is nudged along
POTENTIAL buyers were nudged rather than pushed to consider buying electric.
Critical supports and incentives were maintained, extended or marginally increased to sustain inexorable month-on-month sales growth. It means new EVs continue to benefit from a €5,000 VRT refund and €5,000 SEAI grant.
Importantly, the extension of benefit-in-kind (BIK) incentives continues to 2022 as companies tend to manage cars on a three-year cycle.
An extra €8m worth of grants is earmarked for new buyers. It seems conservative considering take-up is expected to rise sharply.
An additional €3m is going to boost the EV infrastructure as part of a drive to double the number of local authority street charge points next year.
It will also speed the rollout of fast-charging points to taxi ranks at transport hubs.
The minister also undertook to introduce a BIK ‘rationale’ for commercials from 2023.
Paddy Magee, of Renault Ireland, said EVs and curbing ‘dirty’ used imports were critical in reducing transport’s impact.
James McCarthy, of Nissan Ireland, welcomed the EV supports, while Volkswagen Ireland brand director Gerrit Heimberg expects EV sales to grow from 3pc currently to 7pc in 2020 and towards 20pc in 2021.
Hybrids are stepping stones towards full EV ownership. It was significant that VRT reliefs for conventional hybrids (€1,500) and plug-ins (€2,500 rebate, €5,000 SEAI grant) were extended for a year at least.