Transforming transport will help economy to recover - 250,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2020

Transforming transport will help economy to recover - 250,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2020
Dublin, 26 November, 2008

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan and Transport Minister Noel Dempsey today set out the Government's plans for the mass deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. The Government has set a target of 10% of all vehicles in the transport fleet to be powered by electricity by 2020. This will represent some 250,000 cars on Irish roads over the next 12 years.

The Electric Vehicles plan includes:
- Tax incentives for business to purchase electric vehicles Businesses can write off 100% of the cost of purchase against tax under the Accelerated Capital Allowance Scheme
- A €1 million project by Sustainable Energy Ireland to research, develop and demonstrate of vehicles nationally
- Assistance for individuals purchasing electric vehicles - publication of a "Buyer's Guide" a nd a "Cost of Ownership Calculator" by Sustainable Energy Ireland
- Establishment of a National Task Force which will examine infrastructure options for national roll-out of electric vehicles, including street charging

Announcing the Government's plans, Minister Eamon Ryan said, "The Irish Government is signalling its intentions to national and international players that Ireland is 'open for business'. We are positioning ourselves as a centre for electric vehicles. The Government expects considerable international investment to emanate from this plan.
This year alone Ireland will send over €6 billion out of the country to pay for fossil fuels. I want to bring this money back into the Irish economy and fuel our transport fleet with Irish renewable electricity. Electric vehicles are central to these plans. We can reduce our fossil fuel bill and help meet our climate change challenges. Importantly, this plan will bring major investment and jobs to Ireland a s we become a centre for electric vehicles. This plan will stimulate our motor, electricity and green technology industries. It will help the economy to recover."

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said, "All journeys start with one step. This Government initiative is an important step in transforming our current unsustainable travel and transport patterns. It will help us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, improve energy security and lower our transport emissions. Ireland's transport future must include smarter, more sustainable travel choices. I intend to bring a detailed sustainable travel and transport action plan to Government shortly setting out how we can move towards a sustainable transport future. We have an opportunity now to develop a more sustainable travel and transport system that can deliver an enhanced quality of life, improved competitiveness and less pollution. That makes real sense for everyone".

Mr. Brendan Halligan, Chair of SEI stated that there is "significant interest in electric vehicles in Ireland and a widespread acceptance will be required. We will need to alter our attitudes towards electric vehicles and accept that there is no other way forward. A significant amount of work will be carried out over the next years to bring electric vehicles into the mainstream in Ireland. We look forward to taking advantage of the opportunities this Government initiative presents".

Padraig McManus, Chief Executive of ESB echoed these sentiments saying that, with the development of carbon-neutral electricity, it makes eminent sense for Ireland to embrace the electric transport model as quickly as possible.

"ESB is working with all parties to facilitate the development of this sector as it will ultimately be a critical component of the green economy."The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Transport are working with Sustainable Energy Ireland, ESB, the IDA and Enterp rise Ireland to ensure co-ordination across the state sector and to deliver the cleaner transport future for Ireland.

39.7% – European Record Efficiency for Solar Cells from Fraunhofer ISE

At 39.7% efficiency for a multi-junction solar cell, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg have exceeded their own European record of 37.6% which they achieved just a short time ago. III-V semiconductor multi-junction solar cells are used in photovoltaic concentrator technology for solar power stations.
“We have improved the contact structures of our solar cells,” says Frank Dimroth, Head of the III-V – Epitaxy and Solar Cells Group at Fraunhofer ISE. “As a result, using the same semiconductor structures, we now achieve the higher efficiency when converting sunlight into electricity.”

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Dublin Energy Lab PhD Seminar series continues 14th Nov

The Dublin Energy Lab Seminar series continues on November 14th from 10am -12pm in the Focas Institute with Group 2 presenting

• Kevin O'Farrell
• Caitriona Walsh
• Ciaran Berkeley
• Timothy O'Leary

Look forward to seeing you all there