EV companies have plenty of reason to be dancing an Irish Jig-It

Last weeks’ follow-up trip to the “Green Isle” cemented our belief that like London, Dublin is poised to become a major hub of activity in the EV sector. As we mentioned in our earlier blog-post in May, Ireland has committed to a carbon-neutral energy policy with a goal of attaining this status no later than 2030. To accomplish this, Ireland will not only be making huge investment in green energy resources, but will have to foster a similar national effort as was taken in the early days of IT, Internet and Software development. Ireland created a favorable business and tax climate over twenty years ago, to attract and retain high-tech companies from around the world. 20 years later we can see the tangible results of this effort, with dozens of multi-national companies from the early days, such as Intel, Microsoft and Oracle and more recent additions to the landscape such as Google and Ebay, enjoying Ireland’s low corporate tax structure and highly educated workforce incentives. The country is about to embark on a radical and forward-looking initiative in its green energy targets and as you might imagine, electric vehicles are destined to play a significant role in this process. To realize this goal, it is mandated in the new plan that petrol-powered cars will not be sold in Ireland beyond 2020, a mere 10 1/2 years from now.
What will they be driving? I would bet electrics will be the bulk of the vehicle population by 2030 as we see advances in solid state and other battery tech arriving on the scene in the near future, along with more cost-effective production methods and economies of scale. As electric power has an already-in-place infrastructure, not yet existing in hydrogen and biofuel distribution logistic support, the compressed timescale to meet Ireland’s carbon-neutrality target will drive adoption of the much easier network of standard, fast and rapid-charging facilities in city centers, roadside turnouts and parking areas, as well as private homes and public sector properties. Evoasis has been involved in meetings with government and utility providers, private industry and property developers, to find at least three sites in the Dublin city area for EVSTAT station locations. Evoasis is currently planning station locations in London, Dublin, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Malta, Barcelona, Rome, Paris and Amsterdam in 2010 with further country and city launches in the EU, US, Canada and Mexico in 2010-2012. We are working closely with various large, medium and small vehicle manufacturers as well as battery and power control equipment makers, telematic solution and software development companies and others to support the roll-out of EV’s and PHEV’s in the early development of their markets. Many people inquire about our strategy in deciding which geographic areas to pursue; it’s simple-we go “where the cars are”.

I was in a petrol car twice in Ireland-The taxi that took me from the airport and the one that dropped me off. The rest of the time, I was gallantly supported by the EV team at GreenAer.com, distributors of the REVA G-Wiz. I have now

From the deck of GreenAer

The Little NEV That Could-REVA G-Wiz from GreenAer took all three of the EVSTAT team all over Dublin for days! Lightest of us weighed 200 pounds so this little workhorse was hauling 600+pounds of

We’ll be dancing the Irish Jig in Dublin so stay tuned for more news from there. Next stop, Abu Dhabi in July-get ready, this one will blow you away! (and probably give me heat-stroke)