DRIVE TALKING

CROSSING OVER

NISSAN has announced pricing for its new Ariya electric crossover. There are two battery options available – a 63kWh unit with advertised range of 402km starting at €48,995 in Advance trim, and an 87kWh with 529km range in Evolve trim for €66,995. The seemingly massive discrepancy arises because the lower model qualifies for the SEAI grant, and the higher one doesn’t, so you’d have to calculate your driving distance needs very carefully. It’s a finelooking car and it puts Nissan right back in the space it needs to be in to compete with the KIA EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and forthcoming Volkswagen ID.5.

CHARGING AHEAD

EV charging company EasyGo has teamed up with eir to instal 50kW and 22kW units on the sites of former phone boxes. These are the first of around 180 chargers planned for locations across the country. It’s good news for anyone planning to travel around Ireland over the summer in an EV – Connemara is atrociously badly served by chargers. So if you do happen to be in Co. Carlow, you’ll find 50kW DC chargers in Green Lane in Carlow town, Church Road in Bagenalstown, and Tullow Street in Tullow; and 22kW AC chargers in Kennedy Street and Green Bank car park in town, and on the main street in Borris.