Green Limerick: New schemes ‘accelerate’ move to electric vehicles

THE GOVERNMENT has announced a number of new initiatives to ‘accelerate’ the move to electric vehicles (EVs), which will affect Limerick motorists.

The Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien, announced grants for electric motorcycles, a renewal of the taxi, hackney and limousine scheme, and a pilot to explore shared options for home charging.

The L Category Grant Scheme for electric motorcycles is a targeted initiative offering financial support towards the purchase of new electric motorcycles.

Administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and funded by the Department of Transport and Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), the scheme offers grants ranging from €500 to €1,000 for various vehicle categories.

Additionally, the eSPSV Grant Scheme will continue in 2025 with a budget of €12.5m.

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This scheme offers up to €20,000 for taxi, hackney and limousine operators switching to EVs with up to €25,000 available for wheelchair-accessible models.

Since its inception in 2018, this scheme has helped over 2,800 small public service vehicle (SPSV) operators make the switch to electric vehicles.

“These grants are another step towards creating a cleaner, more sustainable transport system in Ireland, and complement existing supports for electric cars, commercial vans and charging infrastructure,” he said.

“These initiatives reflect our Government’s commitment to a zero-emission future, providing individuals and businesses with the tools needed to help make the transition.”

To address a particular challenge of home-charging access, the Minister also introduced a Shared Charging Pilot Scheme.

This programme enables homeowners to rent their EV chargers to others through a booking platform, offering cost-effective charging options for EV owners who don’t have private off-street parking. The pilot will be rolled out in urban, suburban and rural areas.