MINISTER for Transport Eamon Ryan T.D. has welcomed the Cabinet’s decision to approve publication of a report that lays out a pathway for Ireland to reach its ambitious targets of 180,000 Electric Vehicles (EVs) on our roads by 2025 and 936,000 by 2030.
The EV Policy Pathway Working Group – consisting of seven Government Departments and the Sustainable Authority of Ireland – considered a mix of policies to enable Ireland to meet this Climate Action Plan target, which will require a significant ramping-up of EV sales.
The Group was mindful throughout its deliberations of the need to ensure that the decarbonisation of transport is achieved on the basis of a Just Transition for all sectors of Irish society, including both urban and rural communities.
The Report makes 36 recommendations, including:
- The immediate establishment of an Office of Low Emission Vehicles
- The retention of existing EV supports – grants for EV purchase and home charging – until at least the end of 2022
- EVs to retain current levels of VRT relief and positive motor tax treatment until at least the end of 2022
- That further measures will be required to further incentivise the purchase of EVs and disincentivise that of fossil-fuelled vehicles
The Group noted that the recommendations must be kept under review in light of increasing EV uptake rates, the closing price differential with conventionally fuelled vehicles, and the need for appropriate long-term signalling to the market of the increasing shift to EVs.
Minister Ryan commented: “Ireland’s ambitious Climate Action Plan target of a 51% reduction in transport emissions by 2030 requires a major step change in how we travel. Putting 180,000 EVs on our roads by 2025 and 936,000 by 2030 will be one of a number of important policies to enable our national transition to a carbon neutral society. Nobody can be in any doubt of the urgency of the task that faces humanity in tackling climate change and the threat that it poses to our planet. Ireland is once again stepping up and playing its part.
I encourage people to read the Report and to take assurance from its commitment to ensuring that the decarbonisation of our society is achieved in accordance with the need for a Just Transition for all of our people.
Finally, I would also encourage people to consider buying an EV as a tangible contribution to reducing our country’s CO2 emissions.”
