The Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment has published a report on Decarbonising Domestic Transport – E-Cars.

This report is now available for download.

Here are the Joint committee recommendations and the IEVOA position on these recommendations.

Recommendation 1
The Committee recommends that the assets and infrastructure relating to Electric Vehicles should be maintained as a strategic asset for the time being, rather than being commercialised. Any change to the ownership of assets should be undertaken in the public interest. Emphasis should instead be placed on generating policy in the area with a view to increasing the uptake of Electric Vehicles. A decision on a future plan on the public charging  infrastructure for electric vehicles needs to be taken, as currently there is uncertainty as to who will put this infrastructure in place.

The IEVOA committee was disappointed with this recommendation.

Recommendation 2
The Committee recommends that the Transmission System and Distribution System Operator where applicable, put in place a plan and conduct necessary infrastructure changes to make the electricity grid capable of supporting large scale charging of electric vehicles.

The IEVOA committee is broadly in agreement.

Recommendation 3
The Committee recommends that Transport Infrastructure Ireland should introduce a policy whereby Electric Vehicle users would not be required to pay tolls on certain roads, especially as this appears to have had a positive effect in other jurisdictions.

The IEVOA committee would welcome the introduction of free tolls, similar to other countries.

Recommendation 4
The Committee recommends that the Government should consider further reducing the rate of motor tax which applies to Electric Vehicles with a view to increasing uptake. Measures such as this have seen success in accelerating the uptake of Electric Vehicles in the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. That the government should also consider increasing the current SEAI grant awarded for the purchase of an electric vehicle.

Recommendation 5
The Committee recommends that Gas Networks Ireland should also focus on the development of Liquefied Natural Gas as an alternative fuel, and not exclusively
concentrate on the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas into the Irish Transport Sector. Due regard should also be given to Liquefied Natural Gas so as to avoid placing unrealistic expectations on freight operators, particularly where journeys to the United Kingdom are concerned.

Recommendation 6
The Committee recommends that direction should be provided to Local Authorities on the Government’s vision for Electric Vehicles to encourage joined-up thinking.

Recommendation 7
The Committee recommends that the State should encourage and/or incentivise Industry to endeavour to be at the forefront of low-emission alternative energies.

The IEVOA committee is broadly in agreement.

Recommendation 8
The Committee recommends that an equalisation of excise duty on petrol and diesel should be introduced so as to dis-incentivise the uptake of vehicles with diesel engines. This would have to be implemented in conjunction with other measures such as some of the EV incentives outlined and further incentives to encourage greater shift from the private car to public transport and cycling.

No committee comment.

Recommendation 9
The Committee recommends that an investigation into the viability of a ban on Combustion engines should be undertaken. As there are very few, if any, automobiles
manufactured in the State, and due to the fact that Irish consumers mainly drive automobiles that are manufactured elsewhere, there is a risk that Ireland will unwillingly be subjected to a ban of this nature in any event.

The IEVOA committee is broadly in agreement.

Recommendation 10
The Committee recommends that the Government should consider introducing mandatory quotas for zero/low-emission vehicles for car manufacturers from 2019
onwards.

The IEVOA committee is very much in agreement.