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Minister for Agriculture, Food, the Marine and Defence Simon Coveney today (October 23) launched the Drive4Zero initiative that is hoped will encourage more motorists into electric vehicles. Currently being piloted in Cork, the initiative has the backing of major players such as ESB eCars, Q-Park and car manufacturers like Nissan, Renault, Mitsubishi and BMW.
As part of the initiative the car manufacturers have contributed 75 vehicles to facilitate company e-car trialling and extended test drives for the Cork region; Q-Park is providing free parking and charging to e-car drivers in all its Cork locations for a six month duration of the pilot scheme; while the operators of the Fermoy Bypass have waived toll charges for EVs.
"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," said Minister Coveney at the launch of Drive4Zero at City Hall Cork.
"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,"
Those behind the Drive4Zero campaign have also negotiated zero per cent finance packages or zero deposit on electric car purchases with banking partners and finance houses. Thanks to this entry into an ecar can be made from €99 per week.
The Drive4Zero additions come on top of the €5,000 grant provided by SEAI and the 2,000 free charging points fitted by ESB.
Why in Cork?
It is not just national figures involved in the Drive4Zero initiative; Energy Cork, Cork Chamber and Cork City Council are also involved with Cork County Council providing 50 free car spaces with charging facilities for EV drivers in their public car parks and Park 'n' Ride facility at Black Ash.
For more information on Drive4Zero, visit www.drive4zero.ie.
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