What's the news?
Shane Ross TD, the Minister for Transport, will announce on Thursday that owners and operators of small public service vehicles (SPSVs, or basically taxis) will be eligible for a €7,000 grant towards the purchase of an electric vehicle to replace an existing petrol or diesel car or van. That grant comes on top of the existing €5,000 VRT relief for new cars, and a €3,800 grant from the SEAI.
It will apply to electric cars up to six years old, although the amount of the grant rolls back a bit depending on the age of the car. The scheme will also include plugin hybrid electric vehicles, but only those with rated Co2 emissions of less than 65g/km.
The scheme is open to SPSV licence holders looking to replace an existing car, or wheelchair access vehicle, or new licence holders wishing to start working with an electric car.
Mr Ross will make the announcement on Thursday at the Windsor Dundrum Nissan dealership, where the first of the new-generation Nissan Leafs to come into Ireland will be on display. Applications for the grant can be made through the National Transport Authority website, from Thursday onwards.