Chapter 2: Potential Benefits

2.1 Ireland's reliance on oil

Ireland is a largely depend on importing oil from abroad, Ireland's import reliance on energy mainly oil is just

under 90% in 2009, compare that with an EU average 55%.Oil accounts for over half of primary energy

consumption in Ireland, as the graph below in Fig 2.1 shows the biggest demand by far comes from the transport

sector at 63% while second biggest demand comes from the residential at a lowly 17%.

Fig 2.1 Consumption of oil in Ireland

Transport is the largest use of energy in Ireland and there is a total dependence on oil for the transport sector,

the private car user is the biggest user of oil as illustrated in the become diagram in Fig 2.2.

Fig 2.2 Oil in Transport in Ireland

2.2 Irish Government policy

The Irish government has began introducing incentives in trying to encourage electric cars and to build the

infrastructure to cater for them. Ireland has a numbers of factors that works favorably, such as:

The government has also committed to reducing C02 by 20% by 2020 and increasing renewable energy to 30%

by 2020. The biggest contributor to green house gas is transport, if the government fails to meet these

commitments the will get fined or most buy credits from another country.

The Government, the ESB and Renault Nissan alliance all announced in early 2010, that the ESB were

responsible for the roll out of charge points nationwide that would create jobs and that Renault and Nissan would

being a supply of electric cars from 2011. The first charge point was installed in Dublin in march 2010.

There is 3 charging options to choose from:

Home charging:- Car can be charged a home from domestic supply.
Public charging:- Car can be charged at a network of publicly accessible charge point.
Fast charging:- Located at service stations and roadside for those on long journeys.

Below is a map of Ireland from the ESB showing current charge points installed and under construction.

Fig 2.3 Charge points available in Ireland

This year 2011, Renault has started to launched the Fluence ZE electric car which should be available by early

2012 while the Nissan launched the leaf car. The government has launched incentives for private car users, one

been a 5000 euro grant towards the car.

2.3 Benefits of a Electric car

There are other benefits of using a Electric car than the government incentives, such as.

No emissions:- The car itself does not produce greenhouse gases.
Fuel Economy:- Electric cars are more more energy efficient that a combustion engine.
Reduced oil consumption:- Electric cars don't use oil therefore reduces oil dependence.
Preservation:- By using a electric car, would help in preservation fossil fuels.
Cheaper Maintenance:- Electric cars naturally have less components than a combustion car. So less likely
to breakdown and cheaper to repair.

2.4 Consumers attitude

Consumers attitude in generally see the electric car as a way forward, but have concerns with the infrastructure,

price and range.The Government and car manufacturers have a job to convince consumers that electric is a

credible option other than the combustion car.

The questions from consumers that manufacturers have to answer would be design and performance and the

government will have to offer incentives and infrastructure to support the electric car.

2.5 Guide to car buying a electric car

When buying a regular car there is the usually considerations to consider such as:

With the electric car they are a few extra considerations to take into account, such as:

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