Today's Price Increases For Charging Will Erode Benefits To Owning An Electric Car, Says Jennifer Whitmore TD.

Price increases are due to come into effect today for electric vehicle charging points on the public network.

Price increases are due to come into effect today for electric vehicle charging points on the public network.

This will mean that some Electric Vehicle owners will be paying almost as much as they would to drive equivalent petrol or diesel models.

Wicklow Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Climate and Biodiversity, said:

“The Government insists it is on course to see around 950,000 EVs on Irish roads by 2030. While I believe there is far too much emphasis on the use of private vehicles instead of the promotion of active travel and public transport, EVs are still environmentally preferable to driving diesel and petrol cars.

“Given that this is a central plank of the Government’s Climate Action Plan, the ESB’s decision to hike up the price of charging a vehicle on the public network by as much as 50 percent is short-sighted and counterproductive. It will act as a major disincentive to purchasing an EV if the financial benefits of running one are further eroded.

“The latest increases on the public charging network will mean that some EV owners will almost be paying as much as they would to drive equivalent petrol or diesel models.

“I also have issues with the slow roll-out of electric charging points around the country, which is not keeping pace with the significant rise in EV sales. In my own Wicklow constituency, we have had problems getting our EV charging points connected in the first place.

“The Government needs to intervene to protect consumers from yet another energy-related increase. The Minister should call on the ESB to postpone this week’s exorbitant price hike until such a time that the cost-of-living crisis abates and we have a public charging network that is fit for purpose.”