SIMI welcomes move to help boost electric SPSV vehicles

THIS year Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross announced a new taxi/limousine/hackney (SPSV) grant scheme, aimed at increasing the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Irish taxi fleet.

This new electric vehicle initiative will help to stimulate the uptake of EVs in the SPSV industry by giving SPSV drivers up to €7,000 towards the purchase of an EV.

Speaking at the launch of the scheme the Minister said “the electrification of the national SPSV fleet will play a significant role in our transition to a cleaner and greener transport fleet, not only will this be beneficial for our environment, in terms of improved urban air quality and reduced CO2 emissions, but also reduced running and maintenance costs will also be of major benefit to the drivers themselves”.

Analysis shows that fuel savings of up to 10 cent per km can be achieved by driving an electric vehicle in comparison to a conventionally fuelled vehicle. For a vehicle clocking up to 55,000km per annum, this would equate to fuel savings of over €5,000 and net reduction in over 3.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Currently EVs in Ireland also benefit from government purchase incentives up to a value of €10,000 (€5,000 VRT relief and €5,000 SEAI grant), qualify for the lowest band of road tax (€120 per annum), access to an extensive network of public chargers which are presently free to use, and a SEAI home charger grant scheme (up to a value of €600). SIMI has welcomed the recent announcement by Minister Ross of a grant scheme for Taxi/Limousine/Hackney (SPSV), aimed at increasing the uptake of new electric vehicles (EVs) in the Irish taxi fleet.

Alan Nolan, Director General SIMI, commented: “SIMI having campaigned for incentives that help support the change to electric cars such as free Tolls, parking and supports for recharging installation, welcomes the announcement by Minister Ross of the new grant scheme for taxis and other small public service vehicles. As we start to see more electric vehicles on our roads this will help to normalize the electric cars for consumers and their use as a public service vehicle will aid in providing motorists with that experience, while benefiting the environment.

“As we have underlined before, strategies to increase electric car sales, such as the very welcome BIK changes introduced in Budget 2018 take time to impact on purchasing decisions and on supply, as cars for the Irish market are ordered up to six months in advance and we are competing with other countries for supply. Once such incentives are confirmed as being in place for a significant period (as the Minister has signalled in relation to BIK) we will see the market respond strongly and build to a much higher level over a number of years,” said Mr Nolan.

He said Ireland’s national fleet will continue with a mix of engine types over the next few years with Diesel (57%) and Petrol (36%) engines the greater market share in the new car market and still the required option for very many vehicle buyers. “As an Industry we are fully committed to the supply of electric vehicles into the marketplace and we are confident that continuously improving technology will deliver an ever increasing market share for electric vehicles into the future. Incentives will play an important part in helping consumers make their purchasing decision to EVs a new cleaner technology,” he added.