A grant scheme to support the transition of taxis, hackneys and limousines to electric vehicles has been renewed, a local TD has said. Deputy Emer Higgins, TD for Dublin Mid West said “The grant offer period has been amended to be valid for up to nine months, instead of three as in previous years, providing more flexibility for Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) licence holders to purchase electric vehicles. “Eligible applicants can receive up to €10,000 in grants for the purchase of a new, full battery eSPSV, with an additional €2,500 available for models that are wheelchair accessible.
Deputy Higgins Continued: “SPSV owners are eligible for double the normal grant when they scrap an older, more polluting, or high mileage vehicle and switch to electric. The grant can reach up to €20,000 for a new, fully electric SPSV, and €25,000 for a wheelchair-accessible electric vehicle.
“In addition to these grants, SPSV owners who switch to an EV can also avail of VRT relief (up to €5,000), the Domestic Charger Scheme (up to €600), and annual toll refunds (up to €1,000). These incentives, coupled with fuel savings and lower maintenance costs, make electric models an attractive option,” Deputy Higgins concluded.
Since its launch in February 2018, the Electric SPSV Grant Scheme has supported over 1,400 SPSV owners in purchasing electric vehicles. To encourage greater uptake of EVs in the sector, the Department of Transport is funding the installation of dedicated fast-charging infrastructure for the SPSV sector at selected Irish Rail stations nationwide, in addition to maintaining reduced tolls for eSPSV drivers. These measures will improve the sustainability of journeys provided and contribute to Ireland’s national emission targets.
