Grants of up to €8,500 to scrap petrol and diesel cars to boost EV use
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What grants are available for scrapping petrol and diesel cars?
If you have a petrol or diesel car that's over 13 years old, you could be eligible for a grant of up to €8,500 to buy a new electric vehicle under a new pilot state scrappage scheme. Minister for Transport Dara O'Brien is to brief Cabinet about it today. Well, to discuss this, I'm joined by Paddy Common, Head of Communications for Dundeele Cars, and by Emma Mitchell, the Operations Director of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry. Good morning to you both. You're very welcome. Paddy, why now? Why a scrappage scheme now?
It's interesting you ask that because the timing seems a little bit curious because there's such an uplift in EV sales at the moment. They're up over 50% year-on-year and certainly there's been a real push, especially since the recent fuel protest, there was a real push both new and used. So, yes, the timing is curious. But look, we know that we're a little bit behind the curve compared to some other European countries in terms of the EV penetration. And we also just need to reach our CO2 targets as well.
Why is a scrappage scheme being introduced now?
And we're a little bit behind. But with the timing, we might have seen previous to now.
Emma, as Paddy says, we do have targets. We're supposed to be 30% of our private car fleet electric by 2030. What are your thoughts about a scheme like this? Is it needed to get to that target?
Yeah, I think we welcome the announcement. There was two previous scrappage schemes, one in 96 that ran from 96 to 97 and 2010 to 2011. They were both very successful schemes. So I think anything that can be done in addition to what we have, the incentives, the grants, anything new can only be positive. And even the discussion around electric vehicles this morning is even more positive, which will help people even look at electric vehicles if they weren't thinking of it. So I think, yeah, it's hugely positive. And it should just be one of many other...
incentives that need to be introduced okay paddy who's going to benefit from this because you know people with a car that's over 10 years old uh are older are they the ones that can afford to buy a brand new ev which are still you know expensive enough well the the scheme is set to push people in regional areas primarily they they're ring fencing more of it towards regions and we know we can see from the data that um that there are some counties where um petrol and diesel are still the dominant force. And, you know, some of the smaller counties really are affected in that regard. But weirdly, Dublin, petrol is still number one in Dublin. So I found that unusual that petrol is still number one in Dublin.
It's more the commuter counties which are real EV warriors at this stage. But look, it will really push people who are sitting on the fence who weren't sure whether they want to make the leap into an electric vehicle. So I think it will really benefit those people primarily.
Okay, but I mean, cost might be one of the factors. The charging infrastructure is a big one, particularly for people in rural Ireland, isn't it?
It is but the technology has moved on in terms of EV batteries so you know when they came out first you were really barely able to get about 200 kilometers from a full charge but that's changed and most people should charge at home about 80 percent of charging should take place at home regionally you shouldn't have the issues that we have in Dublin of people not being able to put charging points into their homes lots of people who live in apartments still struggle with that so So if you are in a rural area, and especially if you're able to put solar panels on your roof for a benefit from that, you can be in really cheap motoring in an EV.
Emma, if this is introduced and if it works and there's a sudden rush of people clamouring at their local dealership for a new EV, is there the capacity to supply them with one?
No, I think there's always the capacity. You know, that's not a bad problem to have. You know, I think particularly when you look at the timing of this scheme as well, you know, we are headed into the second peak of the year.
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