EV SWITCH: Taxi drivers in Ireland offered HUGE electric taxi support grant worth over £20,000
- Perry Richardson
- Feb 5, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 6, 2022
Taxi drivers in Ireland will be offered a HUGE financial government support grant worth over £20,000 if they choose to switch to a new electric wheelchair accessible taxi.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan announced the re-opening of the electric vehicle taxi scheme, with €15million allocated by the Department of Transport in 2022. The grants will enable owners of small public service vehicles (SPSV), such as taxis and hackneys, to buy electric vehicles (EVs).
SPSV drivers can apply for grants of up to €10,000 (£8,500) towards the purchase of a new, full-battery eSPSV, with a further €2,500 (£2,100) available to convert it to a wheelchair-accessible model.
Taxi drivers are eligible for DOUBLE the normal grant when they scrap an older, more polluting or high mileage vehicle and make the switch to electric. By scrapping and switching €20,000 (£17,000) will be available for a new, fully electric SPSV and if the taxi is a wheelchair-accessible electric vehicle, the supports rise to €25,000 (£21,000).
SPSV drivers who make the 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). This is in addition to the fuel savings and lower maintenance costs associated with electric models.
Almost 600 drivers successfully applied for grants last year, with over €11million paid out as well as €4million in provisional grant offers (PGOs).
Minister Ryan said: “The electrification of the taxi fleet has been earmarked by the Department of Transport as an important component in the transition to cleaner fuels, contributing to the achievement of our national targets under the Climate Action Plan 2021 for the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions in the transport sector.
“More and more professional taxi drivers are voting with their wallets and making the move to EVs as an efficient, sustainable and remarkably cost-effective alternative to expensive petrol and diesel.”
