Should we all plug in to electric cars?
How far they go, how much they cost and everything else you may need to know
A It’s his ambition to ban the sale of cars powered solely by petrol and diesel combustion engines in 2030. Norway has set a target of 2025, and France 2040. The UK announced this week it would ban the sale of these cars by 2040.
Q WHAT is Transport Minister Shane Ross proposing?
Q Will I have to scrap the car I’ll be driving in 2030 and buy a new one? A No. The ban will be on the sale of cars, not ownership. If you have a petrol or diesel car, you will still be able to drive it, but it will have zero tradein value because no one else will be able to buy it secondhand.
Q What are the alternatives to these cars?
A The Government says all new cars sold after 2030 must produce zero emissions, or be capable of doing so. This means having to buy electric or hybrid cars, or cars run on hydrogen, which produces only water emissions. Electric cars produce no harmful emissions, hybrids usually don’t at low speeds in city driving conditions, where health concerns are most acute.
Q Why do we have to switch at all?
A Combustion leads to emissions of gases and chemicals – the most dangerous are carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx). CO2 is a greenhouse gas cited as a principal cause of global warming. NOx is detrimental to human health as ingestion at the levels present in many cities can impair lung capacity and lead to bronchial problems.
Q But aren’t newer engines already much cleaner anyway?
A The answer is a qualified yes. When most European countries broke the link between engine capacity and motor tax, they linked tax to CO2 emissions. For many, this meant a significant reduction. If your 2.0-litre was bought before July 1, 2008, annual motor tax was €710 a year. Many of the newer diesels, while still 2.0-litre, generate lower CO2 levels and can cost €200 or less a year to tax.
Q So what’s the problem?
A Simply put, the carmakers lied. Their figures for emissions levels came from tests conducted in controlled conditions, and may have been deliberately falsified. They installed software to defeat independent testing. Class action suits are pending worldwide, including here.
Q What is a hybrid car?
A Hybrids have an electric motor and a petrol or diesel engine. At start-up, and low speeds, the electric motor alone sends power to the wheels. Above a certain speed, the petrol engine takes over and powers the car. When extra power is needed, the motor and engine work in tandem.
Q Will hybrid cars be widely available?
A They already are. Toyota led the charge with the Prius, it also offers hybrid versions of the Yaris, Auris, RAV4 and more. Other hybrids include, but are not limited to, every model in the Lexus range, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro. Every major manufacturer plans to offer hybrids or electrics in the next five years. Volvo will make only those models after 2019.
Q Do you have to plug them in?
A No – and yes. Most hybrids are not plug-in models. Instead, the battery is recharged while driving. Some hybrids – plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or PHEV – can be recharged at a mains connection.
Q What about electric cars?
A An electric car depends entirely on the battery and an electric motor to propel the car. Models available include Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe, a fully electric version of the Hyundai Ioniq, the standard version of the BMW i3. Q How long does it take to fully recharge the battery? A About eight hours on a standard socket, or two hours if ESB’s ecars division install a fast charger at your house. On-street, high-speed charge points give an 80% charge in 30 minutes. Q How many public charge points are there in Ireland? A Only 1,200, a tiny fraction of what is needed by 2030.
Q What are the pitfalls of electric cars?
A The biggest is range anxiety. Many will only travel 130km to 160km on a charge. Renault says its Zoe will travel 300km on a full charge in summer, and 200km in winter, because power is also used by the heating system. Tesla offers the best range, at almost 500km.
Q How much do they cost to buy and run?
A The Nissan Leaf costs from €21,490, the Renault Zoe from €23,490. The Tesla Model S costs from €82,500 (range of 480km), and the BMW i8 costs from €145,220, but performs like a supercar. If you travel 10km to work and 10km home every weekday, and 50km over the weekend on leisure trips, your weekly total would be 150km. The price of the electricity consumed would be €1.90; diesel would cost you €11.81, and petrol €16.20. Google ‘ESB ecars’ to calculate your savings, and to see a map of all the charge points.
Q Are there downsides?
A Yes. If the electricity to recharge the car is made from burning fossil fuels, the environmental saving might be minimal. Billions will be lost on excise duty on fuel. Many of the metals used in the batteries are mined in Africa where pay and conditions, and environmental standards, are lower.
Q When should I switch?
A Wait – for now anyway. Financial subsidies will be available to help people switch. Mass production will bring down prices. If you bought a car this month and held onto it for nine years, you would be changing in 2026. At that point, buying anything other than electric or hybrid would be madness.