Electric Car Grants & Incentives in Ireland
Electric mobility is the future. Electric vehicles help to reduce the emissions of polluting gases into the atmosphere, thereby protecting our health and preserving the environment by diminishing our dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, they are less expensive to maintain compared to traditional models and allow you to save money when charging them.
However, their high purchase price continues to be a put-off when it comes to their widespread use. The good news is that in Ireland, there are different state grants and incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, as well as for installing the charging units at home. This way you can commit to sustainable mobility and reduce your carbon footprint.
Grants for purchasing electric cars
The grants for purchasing electric cars are provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). If you want to access a grant, you must check which models are eligible before buying an electric car. The range of options is varied, ranging from mini city cars to sedans and vans.
However, keep in mind that electric vehicles that cost less than €14,000 are not eligible. Moreover, these grants only apply to the purchase of a new vehicle, not second-hand ones.
The grant you will be eligible for will also depend on the vehicle’s purchase price. For example, an electric car that costs between €14,000 and €15,000 can access a grant of €2,000. In the case of cars over €20,000, the maximum grant amount corresponds to €5,000.
To apply for the grant, there’s no paperwork for you to do. When you buy the car, the dealer will need to apply for the grant, which will be deducted from the total closing price. However, in some cases, the grant is considered to have already been discounted from the advertised price.
Subsidies for installing a home charger unit
Although many charging stations have been installed in Ireland, if you are going to buy an electric car, it will be more convenient for you to have your own charging station at home. The SEAI also provides financial support to install a charger unit for electric vehicles.
Any private owner who purchases an eligible electric vehicle can apply for this grant, which is available to cover 100% of the installation and charger costs, up to a maximum of €600. However, you will also need to meet the following basic requirements:
- The vehicle can’t be parked on the street – it will need to be parked in a car park associated with the property where you want to install the charger unit.
- The vehicle must be registered to the applicant and to the address of the property where you’re going to install the home charger unit.
- The charger unit will be connected to your home’s fuse board.
To apply for this subsidy, you will need to fill out an application form, in which you must indicate your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN), the 11-digit figure that appears at the top of your electricity bill, and the Eircode of your address. If you are buying a new electric car and have received a subsidy, you must also include the identification of the application provided to you by the dealer.
In addition, it’s important that you don’t commence any installation work until you have the Letter of Offer. If you start earlier, you will not be eligible and will not be able to receive the grant. From the moment you receive the Letter of Offer, you have 6 months to complete the installation of the charger unit. Please note that such work can only be performed by a qualified electrician registered with Safe Electric Ireland.
Other tax incentives for electric cars
In addition to the grants for the purchase of electric cars and the installation of the home charger unit, there are other additional economic incentives to the benefit of electric mobility. For example, in Ireland, registration and motor tax rates are calculated based on CO2 emissions. For this reason, electric cars pay a road tax of €120 per year, while a vehicle in the category just above (A1) that emits between 1 and 80 g/km of CO2 will have to pay €170.
With regard to the registration tax, which is paid only once at the time the vehicle is registered, it ranges from between 14-36% of the sale price. Electric cars are in the lowest category and only pay 14% of the sale price; therefore, in some cases, thanks to purchase grants, they are actually exempt. As of 1 January 2021, the benefits will be greater since the registration tax will be reduced to 7% of the sale price.
Electric vehicles can also benefit from reduced toll rates. If you have an electric car for private use, you will only need to pay 50% of the rate, with a maximum annual discount of €500.
