The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme is a government-supported scheme introduced in 2017 to assist homeowners with the installation of EV charging points on their property.
The scheme offers homeowners a grant up to the value of €600 toward the purchase and installation of a home charger unit, provided the applicant is the owner of an eligible new or second-hand electric vehicle, registered and purchased in 2018 or 2019.
While most modern EVs come as standard with charging cables which can connect to standard 3-pin power outlets, these are typically slower methods of charging an EV – taking up to 12 hours to fully charge some EVs, from empty.
Home charging points, particularly those offered by Electric Ireland can instead charge EV’s in a matter of hours, making them ideal for overnight charging of your Electric Vehicle.
In order to apply for the SEAI grant, applicants must meet certain requirements:
There are three types of plug-in EV and hybrid charger. Slow, Fast and Rapid.
A slow charger is the standard 3-pin plug socket found in Irish homes. These are best for overnight charging. They have an output of up to 3kW and are usually used for home charging. A slow charger will usually take 6 to 12 hours to fully charge an electric vehicle or 2 to 4 hours for a plug-in hybrid.
A fast charger is a standard outdoor electric vehicle charger. It provides a power output of 7 to 22 kW and will usually fully charge an electric vehicle in 3 to 4 hours. Fast charger connectors are tethered with two types of socket, dependent on your vehicle.
There are two types of rapid charger. AC and DC. An AC Rapid charger will provide a power output of 43kW while a DC Rapid charger will provide at least 50kW. Both chargers will replenish an electric vehicle battery to 80% capacity in around 30 - 60 minutes depending on battery capacity.
Plugging your electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle in at home is the perfect way to ensure your vehicle is ready when you need it. When on the go, a range of public charge points are available all across the country.
| Charger | Time | Capacity |
| Home Charging | 6 - 8 Hours | 100% |
| Public Charging (AC) | 1 - 9 Hours (depending on car model and range) | 100% |
| Fast Charging (DC) | ~ 30 Minutes | 80% |
| Rapid Charging | ~ 6 Minutes | 100KM Range |
There are over 1,100 ESB operated charge points dotted throughout Ireland. Click below to view the map and available charge points.
The eCar Connect app is downloadable from the App Store and Google Play Market.
A benefit in kind is any non-cash benefit of monetary value that an employer provides for their employee. These benefits are usually known as notional pay, fringe benefits or indeed perks. These benefits have monetary value and must therefore be treated as taxable income (www.Revenue.ie).
1. Employers can offer EV’s as a benefit to employees without attracting Employer PRSI.
2. Employees will benefit from no net pay deductions when provided with a EV Company Car.
3. Effectively an employee can benefit from free fuel from their employer due to the provision of electricity through company owned charge points, which does not give rise to a taxable benefit for the employee or director from 1 January 2018.
4. No BIK will be incurred on employees charging EVs at work – whether company owned or not.
5. Note that 0% BIK is not available on Hybrid or Plug-In Hybrid EV.
If you have more questions about how you or your company can gain from providing a 0% (BIK) electric vehicle to employees then do visit or contact us.
You don't have to be an accountant to make sense of the savings you and your business can make!
To learn more about the BIK savings for both employees and employers, see our in-depth article.
95% of Irish drivers don’t drive more than 120km a day. Range will vary with weather, road conditions, driving style and battery age. When considering an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, you should calculate your daily mileage consumption to see which range specification will suit you.
Sensible driving is one of the keys to optimising the range of your vehicle. Thankfully, most modern electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids feature measures to support your driving style to maximise mileage. Plan your journeys sensibly and you can experience the very best from your vehicle’s range. Modern electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are equipped with a battery warmer, heated steering wheel and heated seats to help you in cold weather.
