This is one of the main findings from a study on the Costs and Benefits of the use of Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Battery Electric Vehicles in Ireland, conducted by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).

Brendan Halligan, Chairman, SEI, said; “This research is of particular importance within the context of our ability to understand how we can use currently available technologies to bring about improvements in the CO2 intensity of the transport sector. Ireland has targets to meet in terms of reduction of CO2 and with the transport sector currently accounting for 35% of energy related emissions it is imperative that we prioritise measures to bring about meaningful reductions in the short to medium term.”

According to recommendations made in the reports, fleet vehicles in cities or urban areas, should be targeted first under any plans to bring about a move to the use of Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Battery Electric Vehicles. Urban road transport is by its nature more fuel intensive and organisations with large numbers of vehicles in urban use, such as municipal vehicles, police and public transport fleets, would benefit most from efficiencies associated with the integration of Hybrid or Battery Electric Vehicles into their fleets.

SEI believes that policies should be examined as part of a wider policy review to ensure that obstacles to the introduction of such vehicles in Ireland are minimized. These include a review of the taxation system in the aftermath of the introduction of the new VRT regulations. Other measures to stimulating uptake include subsidies for vehicle purchase or conversion, subsidies for refuelling infrastructure, common procurement and public private partnerships.

SEI has also published a buyers guide and cost of ownership calculator in order to assist vehicle owners in their purchasing decisions.

John McCann, Programme Manager, SEI said; “In publishing today’s reports SEI has outlined an approach to accelerating the adoption of existing Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Battery Electric Vehicles, with the aim of bringing about a definable change in the CO2 intensity of the road transport sector in Ireland. These changes cannot be made in isolation and must be integrated into broader changes being outlined under the Government’s strategy for meeting EU emissions targets to 2020.”

Key SEI report findings:

• Efficiency improvements in using hybrid and battery electric vehicles are greatest for vans, cars and buses in urban service
• Replacing 10% of cars, vans and buses in Ireland with current models of hybrid and battery electric vehicles could reduce national CO2 emissions from transport by 0.35 million tonnes annually
• The most beneficial category in terms of CO2 emission reductions is to switch petrol cars to battery electric cars. The second most beneficial switch is from petrol cars to diesel hybrid cars.
  

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment