Reports call for reform to encourage electric take-up

IRELAND could massively reduce CO2 emissions if just 10 per cent of motorists switched to hybrid or electric engines, a new report claims. The move would have the same effect as taking 100,000 cars off the road and bring down CO2 levels by 0.35 million tonnes a year.

New financial incentives for fleet managers to encourage the use of electrically-powered cars, vans and buses were among the recommendations of three reports published by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) yesterday.

The reports include a buyers' guide to the vehicles currently available in Ireland; a detailed costs analysis of battery and hybrid electric vehicles; and a range of policy recommendations to Government to reduce greenhouse gases.

SEI's Jack McCann, who reviewed best practice experience across the world, said the policy recommendations to Government involve increased capital allowances for companies to compensate for the extra purchase price of electric or hybrid electric/mechanical vehicles.

For drivers of electric vehicles, the reports suggest a reduction in benefit-in-kind tax which employees pay on company cars, reduced VAT and a range of reduced fuel taxes, parking charges, potential congestion charges and distance tolling.

The reports conclude that the best option, in terms of CO2 reductions, for private cars is a switch to battery power, while second best is a switch to hybrid electric vehicles.

Among the non-environmental advantages of electric vehicles are, according to the reports, reduced insurance premiums and noise pollution. The disadvantages include the increased initial purchase price, sometimes lower speeds.