A unique campaign to encourage the uptake of electric cars was launched last Friday in Cork by Minister for Agriculture, Food, the Marine and Defence Simon Coveney, T.D. The Drive4Zero initiative, which is being piloted in Cork, provides a range of incentives for companies and individuals choosing to drive electric vehicles (EVs) and is expected to double the number of ecars in the Region within 6 months.

“By bringing together all the relevant parties, we have been able to create a really special initiative that promotes electric car adoption and the significant benefits thereof. Drive4Zero provides compelling reasons to drive an ecar, by offering zero fuel costs, zero parking charges, zero tolls, zero percent finance as well as zero emissions of course,” said Minister Coveney at the launch of Drive4Zero at City Hall Cork.

“This is an ambitious project, but one that can yield enormous returns for our environment and energy management while delivering real cost efficiencies and benefits for ecar drivers,” the Minister added.

Car manufacturers supporting Drive4Zero include Nissan, Renault, Mitsubishi Motors and BMW, and these brands are providing more than 75 e-cars to the Cork pilot, to facilitate company e-car trialing and extended test drives for the Cork region. A number of multinationals have already subscribed to the Drive4Zero initiative and are availing of the free charging points provided by ESB as part of the drive. With up to 2,000 free charging units to distribute as part of Drive4Zero, ESB expects to double the number of charge points available in Cork in the coming months as a direct result of the Drive4Zero campaign.

As well as the car manufacturers and the ESB, the Drive4Zero collaboration includes the SEAI, which provides €5,000 in grant aid towards the purchase of an EV, and the SFI Research Centre for Marine Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI) is also a key player in the delivery of the initiative.

INCENTIVES

The Drive4Zero package of incentives for e-car drivers in the Cork pilot includes zero fuel costs, zero parking costs, zero tolls, and zero % finance with more incentives to be announced in the coming months.

• 75 e-cars provided by car manufacturers to Cork companies and individuals for extended test drives;

• €5,000 grant off the purchase price of an e-car provided by SEAI and 2,000 free charging points provided by ESB for home or commercial sites;

• More than 50 free e-car parking & charging spaces provided by Cork City Council;

• Q Park free e-car parking & charging;

• Zero deposit or zero percent finance offers for Drive4Zero mean that you could own an e-car for €99 per week and avail of free fuel and parking and reduced VRT, tax and insurance.

NO TOLL CHARGE

Q-Park is providing free parking and charging to e-car drivers in all its Cork locations for the Drive4Zero pilot, while the Fermoy Bypass Toll providers, Direct Route (Fermoy) have waived toll charges for EVs as part of their commitment to the Drive4Zero initiative.

Locally, a 24 hour DC & AC access public charge points is operational at SuperValu, Courthouse Road, Fermoy.

For more information on Drive4Zero, visit www.drive4zero.ie

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