De Ieren willen in 2020 10 % elektrische auto’s op de weg hebben. Dat maakte de regering eind vorige week bekend tijdens een conferentie over duurzame energie en transport. Daarvoor is een nieuwe infrastructuur nodig die groene stroom produceert voor de 250.000 elektrisch rijdende auto’s.

Opvolgen:

De baas van Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), professor Owen Lewis, zegt: ‘In de hele wereld groeit de aandacht voor elektrische voertuigen en Ierland bereidt zich voor op deze aankomende vorm van transport.’ Lewis denkt aan het benutten van wind- en getijde-energie om de auto’s van stroom te voorzien. ‘Er zijn grote investeringen nodig in de infrastructuur, zelfs voor een klein aantal elektrische auto’s. De voertuigen vereisen een omvangrijk oplaadsysteem dat nu niet bestaat.’

Het SEI stelt vast dat Israel en Denemerken ook aan projecten met elektrische auto’s. Deze landen investeren 200 miljoen euro in oplaadpunten langs de openbare weg en in 500 accuwisselstations.

De Ierse regering wil door de inzet van elektrische auto’s klimaatverandering tegengaan. Als in 2020 10 % (250.000 auto’s) elektrisch rijdt heeft da even veel invloed als het uit gebruik nemen van 100.000 traditionele auto’s, aldus het SEI. Eind vorig jaar is een pakket maatregelen aangekondigd ter waarde van 6 miljoen euro. Automobilisten krijgen een beloning als ze voor een elektrische auto kiezen en bedrijven mogen de auto volledig afschrijven op de belastingen.

Camiel, worden we nu ingehaald door Ierland?

Het bericht van SEI:

Large Scale Infrastructure Changes Necessary to Meet Electric Vehicle Target

Media Information

18th February 2009

Electric Vehicle and Sustainable Transport Conference Opens in Dublin

Ireland can meet its target of making 10% of all road vehicles electric by 2020; however, significant large scale infrastructural changes will be required across the economy, including developing the capacity for recharging an estimated 250,000 passenger vehicles. This is according to Professor J Owen Lewis, Chief Executive, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) speaking at the opening of this morning’s conference on Electric Vehicle and Sustainable Transport in Dublin. The conference is organised jointly by SEI and the ESB who today announced the introduction of a number of electric vehicles to the fleet operated by its networks business.

The conference is a platform for Ireland’s policy makers to consider the potential barriers to effective deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland in line with the Government’s ambitious 10% target. Delegates will hear from leading international experts who will speak on electric vehicle policy drivers and issues around research and development priorities, and examine sustainable transport technologies from a manufacturer’s perspective.

Professor J Owen Lewis said; “Interest in the use of electric vehicles is growing worldwide and Ireland is moving to prepare the way for this emerging form of transport by bringing together experts in the area to highlight the key issues which must be addressed. Ireland has a significant renewable energy potential in the form of wind and ocean energy. As these provide a variable supply of energy, with large amounts sometimes available at night time when our system demand is low, electric vehicles charging at night time will allow us to manage this renewable resource more effectively.”

ESB is committed to generating carbon-free electricity by 2035 and, in that context, argues that electricity can assist Ireland's transport fleet to radically reduce its emissions. ESB's Director of Sustainability, John Campion, said; “The electricity industry will play a vital role in reaching extremely challenging environmental targets in other sectors. The achievement of carbon free electricity is the key to lowering harmful emissions in the transport sector. Not only will electricity be used to charge vehicles in an environmentally friendly way and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, it can also be used to recharge vehicles at night and during periods of least demand."

“The reason that a significant investment in infrastructure will be required to facilitate even a modest deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland is that these vehicles require an extensive charging infrastructure which is not currently in place. This infrastructure also needs to be integrated with a supply of renewable electricity. Today’s conference is examining the policy considerations necessary to facilitate the development of such an infrastructure. This will require a high level of cooperation between both public and private bodies as has been demonstrated in pilot projects undertaken in other territories,” added Professor Lewis.

According to SEI, passenger fleet owners in Ireland are best placed to initially benefit from the efficiencies of electric vehicles, which could reduce fuel running costs by up to 50%. Ownership costs over the life of the vehicle tend to be higher at present due to the capital costs; however it is expected that with increased production and technology development this cost can be quickly reduced.

Today’s event also features a large display of electric vehicles of varying sizes available on the Irish market including cars, vans and all-electric people carriers. There is an increasing number of hybrid and electric vehicles for consumers and fleet owners to choose from, and the associated battery and charging technology is developing rapidly.

- ends -
Editors Notes:

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is the statutory authority charged with promoting and assisting the development of sustainable energy. SEI is funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan, with programmes part-financed by the European Union.
Among the international examples being detailed at the conference are successful electric vehicle pilot projects in the UK and Germany.

1. In London, Westminster City Council has installed 12 on-street parking spots and 48 charging points in public car parks. Users pay a small annual fee for the electricity used in exchange for a £75 annual fee.

2. While in Berlin, car manufacturer Daimler, German utility company RWE and the German Government is installing 500 charging points for 100 electric vehicles. RWE will build, maintain and operate the charging infrastructure while Daimler will supply electric vehicles and provide customer support to the users of the vehicles.