The Irish Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, Electricity Supply Board (ESB) and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, MC Automobile (Europe), N.V. and MMC Commercials Ltd. on May 24 in Dublin announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the parties to further promote the electric vehicle (EV) industry in Ireland. Additionally, Ireland’s first EV trial-project conducted by Trinity College Dublin’s (TCD) School of Engineering on behalf of ESB was also announced the same day.
As part of the trial, the all-electric, zero-emission Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (i-MiEV)will be used throughout Ireland to support the planning and implementation of the ESB nationwide charging infrastructure. The customer behaviour and attitudes research to be undertaken by TCD will be crucially important in understanding how customers want to use their EVs. The parties intend to make the vehicles available to a wide range of users – both residential and pilot corporate customers - and to promote EVs in light of the recently announced enhanced Irish Government incentives. The Irish Government has set a target of 10% for all vehicles on Irish roads to be electric by 2020.
Minister Eamon Ryan said, “Today's Memorandum with Mitsubishi and ESB's trial with Trinity College is another important milestone in the electrification of the Irish motoring fleet. Ireland is leading the way and with such innovation from ESB, TCD and our new partnership with Mitsubishi, our international position is further strengthened. Irish drivers and the Irish economy will only benefit.”
A “Smart Home Charging” system will be trialled which will allow the cars maximise the amount of energy they get from renewable sources, while also facilitating the operation of the electricity system. This is a key requirement for a successful transition to carbon neutral sustainable travel and ESB has committed to installing 1,500 publicly accessible charging stations, 2,000 domestic charging points and 30 fast charging units on a nationwide basis throughout Ireland by the end of 2011.