SEÁN MAGUIRE, from Kilconly, Co Galway, is the first person in Ireland to take delivery of one of an initial shipment of 10 fuel-free electric cars from Bangalore in India.
"I have no worries any more about the cost of petrol or diesel. The car can travel for 80km on an overnight charge or 50km after being charged for 2 1/2 hours. I just plug it into the mains at home to charge it up and, as I am planning to have my own windmill soon, this will reduce my carbon footprint further."
Mr Maguire said that ever since he was 15 he wanted an electric car and he was always watching out for developments in technology regarding the production of such vehicles.
"Now when I collect my children from school in Caherlistrane, the car is a major talking point with the other children and many of them want to be taken for a trip in it," he said.
The car is a two-door vehicle and has a maximum speed of 75 miles per hour.
"When I took delivery of the car I had no VRT to pay and the insurance was only €204. The insurance company also told me I was the first person in Ireland they insured in an electric car," he said.
Mr Maguire paid €12,500 for the car and although the cost of road tax is €146, he says there is no tax on similar vehicles in Britain and he hopes the Government here will abolish the tax.
The Reva (i) is the third generation of this model, according to Lisa Redden of the Dublin-based firm Greenaer, which is importing the vehicles.
The car has no gear stick and while a conventional key is used for turning it on, it uses a button system instead of gears.