As of recently, with the rise in popularity of electric cars people must wonder ‘why are electric vehicles better for the environment?’. It’s since research from the Low Emissions Vehicles Taskforce concluded that the transport system contributes 20% of Ireland’s emissions of greenhouse gases. There is an increasing urgency for every country to reduce its dependency on petrol and diesel due to the increase in harmful carbon emissions.
The long-term aim is to abandon the use of petrol and diesel as one of the most effective ways to help save the environment from further harm. The Taskforce highlighted the way forward was to encourage the use of electric vehicles (EVs). These can consist of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) which combine petrol products and electricity, but the ultimate aim is to use full, battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
However, the success of the scheme relies on a great deal of forward planning. It requires vast numbers of EV chargers to be installed in a variety of public locations and in commercial and domestic properties. A highly experienced electrical contractor such as the family-run JK Services will be helping drivers in Ireland to prepare for the coming changes.
What is the Growth Rate of Electric Vehicles in Ireland?
The Government plans to halt the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030. By then the intention is to have at least one million EVs on Ireland’s roads. It means we have little more than nine years to complete the switch to using all electric vehicles. There are some critics who doubt the country can achieve such a level of success. But in just the first six weeks of 2021, the sales of EVs have grown by an impressive 400% as an estimated 1,400 new EV owners have taken charge of their new electric vehicles.
It’s a trend that looks set to escalate as it continues throughout the year. To supply electric vehicles in Ireland with power, there needs to be a reliable network of electric vehicle charging stations. There are currently 700 public access chargers on many of the main roads. And by next year, hundreds more will be installed with power supply ratings of between 22 kW and 150 kW.
However, the real success of the switch to full electric vehicles relies on how efficiently EV chargers are installed at Ireland’s homes and businesses.
Why are Electric Vehicles Better for the Environment?
Almost one third of an electric vehicle’s entire carbon footprint is produced during manufacturing. Plug-in hybrid vehicles that combine a rechargeable battery with a traditional petrol or diesel engine emit around half the amount of carbon emissions compared to a traditional petrol-driven car.
However, full electric vehicles produce no carbon emissions at all when they are being driven. It’s estimated that a single electric car will prevent more than one million grams of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere over the course of a year compared to a current petrol or diesel car.
Air pollution is often linked to respiratory issues such as asthma, so changing to electric vehicles will be better for the health of pedestrians. Wildlife and plants will no longer be harmed by the pollution from our roads and vehicles. And petrol spillages will be avoided.
Electric vehicles are much quieter when they are running, so noise pollution will be reduced. Everyone should look forward to the benefits of changing to full electric vehicles. The air quality in Ireland’s towns and cities will be vastly improved by a reduction in exhaust fumes. Ireland will be a more peaceful, green environment. And best of all, with the help of a fully qualified electrician from JK Services, you can start introducing these environmental benefits by installing an EV charger at your home or business well before 2030.
Running Cost of Electric Vehicles
Why are electric vehicles better for the environment? It’s because they are purposely made to be environmentally-friendly. It’s estimated that an electric vehicle can last up to five times longer than a traditional car.
The engines of electric cars are much simpler than diesel or petrol and have much fewer mechanical parts. Regular maintenance and servicing of your vehicle should generally work out far less expensive. If you compare the cost of travelling a certain distance in an electric car compared to a petrol or diesel vehicle, the cost of the electricity it needs should be around 40% less than the cost of the other types of fuel.
The rechargeable lithium battery of an electric vehicle usually has a warranty of eight years. But depending on how you use your vehicle, an individual battery could last well beyond that estimation. Batteries can also be recycled, helping to safeguard the environment even more. However, some of the greatest environmental benefits are to be gained if your electric vehicle is powered by solar energy.
Use Solar Power to Charger your EV
To make the greatest impact on cutting carbon emissions, it’s helpful to understand why electric vehicles are better for the environment if they use solar power. A self-charging electric vehicle can take its power supply directly from the grid or from the energy supplied by solar panels. Electricity from the grid can be expensive, although you can try to reduce the cost by recharging your vehicle during off-peak hours.
If you have a solar panels PV system installed at your home, you can use the power it supplies to directly recharge your car’s battery. Solar energy is renewable and sustainable, leading to the largest reduction in carbon emissions. It also means a significant reduction in the cost of your electricity if you have produced it at your property through a solar panel.
If you have a solar panel system that includes a battery storage unit, you can recharge your electric vehicle whenever you want. JK Services has experienced solar energy engineers who can advise you on the advantages of using solar panels to supply sustainable, green energy to an EV charger for your new electric vehicle.
Electric Vehicles Ireland and Grants
Through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), you can apply for grants to help towards the cost of an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle charging station installed at your home or business.
An SEAI grant of 2,000 euros for an electric vehicle only applies to brand-new cars worth 14,000 euros or more. The minimum grant is 2,000 euros for cars with a list price of 14,000 to 15,000 euros. The grants then increase by 500 euros for every additional 2,000 euros on the price of the car. The maximum grant of 4,500 euros is for a car with a value of 19,000 to 20,000 euros.
If you need a small, brand-new goods van with an N1 category for your business, you can apply for an SEAI grant. Your van must cost a minimum of 14,000 to 15,000 euros for which there is a grant of 2,000 euros. The grants increase by 500 euros up to a maximum grant of 3,800 euros or vehicles costing more than 18,000 euros. If you are a car owner you can apply for a 600 euros grant for an EV Charger providing your car is parked off the street.
Professional EV Charger Installation
Today’s electric vehicles are much more powerful than they were a decade ago. Depending on the make and model, you can expect an electric vehicle to travel for approximately 250 miles before it needs to be recharged. With a fast charger, it can take twenty to thirty minutes to recharge the car’s battery. The average electric car takes eight hours to be fully charged.
Why are electric vehicles better for the environment when you install EV chargers at your home? The majority of electric cars are recharged overnight while you sleep. It makes using an electric vehicle convenient. There are already hundreds of chargers at different locations throughout Ireland. As more drivers choose an electric car, there’ll be more electric vehicle chargers at local shops, in the street, and at homes and businesses.
At JK Services, our team of highly qualified electricians are fully experienced at EV Charger installations. Our family-run business has been based in Cork for more than thirty-five years, and we install solar energy products in all areas of Ireland. Our expertise in solar panels and EV chargers installations, and providing regular electrical maintenance services, will ensure you have all you need to make the switch to a greener, cleaner environment. For a fast and efficient EV Charger installation, contact JK Services today.
We have more interesting blogs on similar topics such as ‘how to reduce electric bills in the winter‘, ‘how much does it cost to get a house rewired‘, or maybe you want to know ‘do solar panels work when it’s cloudy‘, ‘are solar panels worth it in Ireland‘, ‘are all electric car chargers the same‘ or ‘how much does it cost to charge an electric car‘. If so, read the blogs and find out from our experts at JK Services.