Update: Family Car and Fossil Fuels – Communications, Energy & Natural Resources 23rd October, 2014

[Ref No.: 40880/14]

*  To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the family car is likely to become reliant on electricity as opposed to fossil fuels in the future; the extent to which the need has been quantified in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Bernard J. Durkan.

*    For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 23rd October, 2014.

(677  Received on 20th October, 2014.)

REPLY

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White)
The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland aims to meet this target mainly through the use of sustainable biofuels with electric vehicles also making a smaller contribution.

In terms of supports for electric vehicles, the Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme is in place to incentivise and support, through grants of up to €5,000, the early deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. These grants are in addition to the VRT reliefs which apply to electric vehicles.

Additionally, the ESB is continuing to roll out both publicly accessible charging infrastructure and domestic charge points. My Department understands that 892 public charge-points have now been installed nationally. These include 67 DC fast chargers, most of which have been installed on major roads. Additionally, there are 918 domestic/commercial installations in place.

The extent to which electrics vehicles are adopted in the short-to-medium term will depend on a range of factors including,  inter alia , the strength of the economy, the overall numbers of new cars being purchased, the cost of purchasing and running electric vehicles compared to fossil fuel comparators, and the number of different electric vehicle models available to purchase. There are signs that these factors are improving and in 2014 there has been an increase in electric vehicle purchases through the grant scheme compared to last year. Furthermore, it is expected that the biggest technological developments in the sector will take place in battery and vehicle design and this will continue to address concerns regarding the battery range of electric vehicles.

Moving beyond 2020, negotiations are now well underway on the Climate and Energy Framework 2030 published by the European Commission in January of this year. The proposals foresee significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and an increases in renewable energy across the EU. Achieving the 2030 goals will require a range of measures in the transport sector, including additional electrification.