In April 2009, the Minister for Communication Energy and Natural Resources announced the introduction of grant support of up to €5,000 for the purchase of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and up to €2,500 for the purchase of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) available from 2011 through 2012. The Government is offering these grants through Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).The grant plan is cash limited and will operate on a "first come, first served" basis.
This support comes in addition to the zero vehicle registration tax (VRT) on BEVs and VRT relief of up to €2,500 for PHEVs announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Speech of December 2009.
SEAI has published a Buyers Guide and a Cost of Ownership Calculator to aid individuals interested in purchasing electric vehicles. SEAI has also published reports on Hybrid Electrical Vehicles and Battery Electric Vehicles. These reports highlight potential measures that could be used to stimulate uptake of electric vehicles in Ireland and make recommendations with regard to how this might be best achieved.