Fury as hybrid motor grant axed

THE ending of a €2,500 grant towards plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) was branded ‘deplorable’ yesterday.

The grant was halved from €5,000 in July and will end on December 31.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) hit out at the move, saying: ‘For the second time in less than two weeks, motor retailers need to contact customers who have already pre-ordered their car for January, advising the Government has moved the goalposts again.

‘Last week it was increased VRT, and this week it is the removal of the €2,500 PHEV grant.’

SIMI boss Brian Cooke said: ‘This is a terrible decision, it is anti-consumer and anti-environment, adding to the cost for people making a better environmental decision.

‘PHEVs are an important stepping stone to going fully electric, particularly in rural parts where there’s a lack of charging infrastructure.’

Meanwhile, AA spokesman Paddy Comyn said: ‘We feel that the announcement of the cessation of PHEV grants in January, which will be just six months after they were halved from €5,000 to €2,500, is premature and will not encourage the move away from petrol or diesel cars.

‘We acknowledge the grant money will be used to increase the penetration of electric vehicles, but AA Ireland feels this should have been extended to the end of June 2022, to allow motorists who were undecided to order a new car for next year.’

Transport Minister and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan announced on Monday the end of the grant as the mileage range of new electric cars meant drivers should no longer suffer from range anxiety.

He explained: ‘The arrival of longrange, fully electric vehicles on the market means range anxiety can become a thing of the past. A single charge on one of these will cover well over 400km range.’