Work incentives/grants

kevin16w

Hi,

I am hoping someone might be able to help me or point me in a direction.

I work for a company that has an innovation scheme and I have placed in the request of add electric charging units at the office here. I had sold it based on grants that company might get plus the ability to sell to clients that they are an innovative company. While I really just want them to get a power point as I am thinking of moving over to BEV.

The boss man asked me to get him some actual facts regarding incentives/grants that they may get.
Also if they were to purchase a car/several cars for the company what way would the tax breaks work out.

Can someone please help or direct me to a place to go.

Thanks,
Kevin

KCross

Nearly all the grants are administered by the SEAI

This details some of the grants available for commercial purchase of EV
https://www.seai.ie/grants/electric-vehicle-grants/grant-amounts/

There is also the tax write-off allowance where you can offset the full cost of an asset against the current years tax bill (that would include the car and the charge point)
https://www.seai.ie/energy-in-business/accelerated-capital-allowance/

Note: That doesnt mean the car is free... it just means you get to offset it all in year 1 rather than across the usual 8yrs.


And then there was the budget announcement that there will be no BIK on an EV. So any people using company cars at present would pay no BIK if they switch to a BEV car.

And clearly the EV will be cheaper to run for the company rather than paying for petrol/diesel so there is an incentive there too.

kevin16w

Thanks so much for that information. Would be nice if they got me a car.... wont hold my breath.
But thanks for helping me out.

KCross

No problem, have you researched EV's and whether they are suitable for your commute/work etc?

Another important point is to have home charging, particularly if your boss doesnt install the work charger or if the work charger is sometimes busy and you dont have enough charge to get home.

There is also a home charge grant which you would be entitled to if you buy the car yourself and if you have a driveway.
https://www.seai.ie/grants/electric-vehicle-grants/electric-vehicle-home-charger-grant/

kevin16w

KCross wrote: »

No problem, have you researched EV's and whether they are suitable for your commute/work etc?

Another important point is to have home charging, particularly if your boss doesnt install the work charger or if the work charger is sometimes busy and you dont have enough charge to get home.

There is also a home charge grant which you would be entitled to if you buy the car yourself and if you have a driveway.
https://www.seai.ie/grants/electric-vehicle-grants/electric-vehicle-home-charger-grant/

I have done some research but I would always revert back to here as you guys all know an awful lot more than me. I had been strongly considering the new leaf as commute is longford to dublin and didnt want to rely on work charging.
however after reading some opinions here and on youtube im going to pass and hold out for the Kona EV larger capacity and better drag efficient.

would you agree with that. see i do like most of the cars. i have driven a few at the seai all energy last year including the very nice model S but could not consider. And was advised at the event to stay with diesel until my range could be fully met as hybrid would be still expensive for me.

I spend minimum €400 per month on diesel and would rather be using that money to pay off a loan for a cleaner more efficient car. I would be doing approx 1250 - 1500 kilometers a week and would just hope the battery would handle the full to empty to full rigor of my daily commute for a number of years without dropping bars.

Gumbo

kevin16w wrote: »

I have done some research but I would always revert back to here as you guys all know an awful lot more than me. I had been strongly considering the new leaf as commute is longford to dublin and didnt want to rely on work charging.

I would have thought work charging was a requirement as you don't want to rely on the public network.

Even an outdoor sock means you can use the 3 pin granny cable and charge while in work.

KCross

kevin16w wrote: »

I had been strongly considering the new leaf as commute is longford to dublin and didnt want to rely on work charging.
however after reading some opinions here and on youtube im going to pass and hold out for the Kona EV larger capacity and better drag efficient.

How far is the full return journey?
Is it primarily motorway?
What speed do you tend to travel at?

kevin16w wrote: »

I spend minimum €400 per month on diesel and would rather be using that money to pay off a loan for a cleaner more efficient car. I would be doing approx 1250 - 1500 kilometers a week and would just hope the battery would handle the full to empty to full rigor of my daily commute for a number of years without dropping bars.

Thats high mileage. You potentially can make huge savings by going EV on that kind of mileage but you do need to ensure you do not rely on the public network.

Daily charging of an EV will not be an issue from a battery longevity perspective. You just need to pick the right car that can do the journey without any stops.

kevin16w

kceire i agree on the public requirement as have heard stories although as i am on M4/N4 i do pass applegreen at enfield and ballinalack to get diesel and i can hardly remember ever seeing anyone charging there.
my intention would be to use at work, if available, but not to rely upon.
I would prefer to have enough for my day when i get into car in the morning.

@KCross my return journey would be 250-260km but never less. Sometimes i drive to Limerick and back but probably just once/twice a month.
It would be primarily be N4/M4 and when driving im fairly ploughing along at 120km/h or a small bit above.
My wife would probably encourage moving to EV as she would understand it would slow me down. I agree to a certain extent but i feel it could be tough to change my foot....

I would love to move to EV but feel like the Kona would be my only option and worth waiting for. I was considering model 3 but still feel it would be too much for my wallet. Would the eGolf work at all for me. Or again would it rely upon charging during work, which is something i just dont want to rely upon.

KCross

kevin16w wrote: »

@KCross my return journey would be 250-260km but never less. Sometimes i drive to Limerick and back but probably just once/twice a month.
It would be primarily be N4/M4 and when driving im fairly ploughing along at 120km/h or a small bit above.
My wife would probably encourage moving to EV as she would understand it would slow me down. I agree to a certain extent but i feel it could be tough to change my foot....

I would love to move to EV but feel like the Kona would be my only option and worth waiting for. I was considering model 3 but still feel it would be too much for my wallet. Would the eGolf work at all for me. Or again would it rely upon charging during work, which is something i just dont want to rely upon.

I think you have it right. Tesla's or some upcoming cars like the Kona are the only ones that are going to allow you to do 250km @ 120km/h.

If you got work charging and you were happy to rely on it then it would open up a lot of options for you but if you are adamant that you want 250km @ 120km/h you have to wait.

Hit the boss for the work charge point in the meantime anyway.... he might get it sorted before you get the car!

Your fuel savings are going to be massive so make the move sooner rather than later as every month that passes is another €400 wasted!

Food for thought.... it might actually be worth your while relying on work charging in the short term as it will be €400 saved per month and then buy the 60kWh car once a few more become available... which could be 1-2yrs away.... do the math!

kevin16w

@KCross thanks for the help.

I do hope and will push the boss to get it installed. I have sent on the details you provided and it really is a no brainer for them, but then I just dont know for sure... If they do install I would probably consider my options again and see what release date might be for the Kona and likely wait to get one.

Well my fuel savings would literally be just going towards a new car loan. But i would rather it go there against a new car than into an old car that will be getting more expensive when the excise duty goes up on diesel. I would also love to see EVs go toll free and even drive on bus lanes as that is what happened in Norway and they had a massive uptake.

KCross

kevin16w wrote: »

Well my fuel savings would literally be just going towards a new car loan. But i would rather it go there against a new car than into an old car that will be getting more expensive when the excise duty goes up on diesel.

What Im saying is this....

Two options

1) Wait for 60kWh cars to appear and pay €30k+ probably to buy a new one.... maybe later this year(Kona) or 191(Niro)

or

2) Get work charge point installed and buy a second hand EV now for, say, €15k. With the work charge point you could buy pretty much any EV you like (old Leaf, eGolf, Zoe, etc). You could do that today and then save the €400/mth on your diesel bill and use that to buy the 60kWh when you find one you like next year, while still having all the benefits of EV driving in the meantime.

You will have the bones of €5k saved in 12 months time which will reduce your loan on the 60kWh and the old EV you will be trading should still be more than sellable.

It requires a work charge point though..... even access to a 3-pin outdoor socket would do if the car is parked for your workday.

Just a thought.

kevin16w

@KCross now thats definitely something to ponder.

I will see what happens but I would doubt I would see a charge point in work within next 6 months.

I would say charge point and Kona could be same timeline....

Still if it came in sooner i think option 2 is something strongly to consider.

KCross

kevin16w wrote: »

I will see what happens but I would doubt I would see a charge point in work within next 6 months.

I would say charge point and Kona could be same timeline....

Still if it came in sooner i think option 2 is something strongly to consider.

Would they give you access to a standard 3-pin socket in the meantime?

kevin16w

They probably would but the issue would be the once a month trip to Limerick also. i had forgotten about that.

Its 210-220km and some on motorway too. Im not sure any car would get me down there in one go.

I think its best i sit and wait for 60kWh cars.

unkel

kevin16w wrote: »

once a month trip to Limerick also. i had forgotten about that.

Its 210-220km and some on motorway too. Im not sure any car would get me down there in one go.

Not unless you drive slower than 120km/h. Ioniq, Zoe 40kWh and eGolf can do it but you'd probably need to drive at no more than about 100km/h

Would it be so bad though to have one stop on the way over and one stop on the way back? There are some reliable enough fast charge points. In Ioniq, you'd only need to charge for maybe 15-20 minutes and you can drive the whole way at 120km/h no problem. It's only once a month, in your case I would consider that.

Kona is supposed to be in the dealers in July and the 64kWh looks very promising.

And KCross gave you some excellent advice up there!

kevin16w

@unkel thanks for that. There are a few other issues to ponder... the main one being the missus..... but I think she would approve.

If you reckon July or even by September i think i will be getting into my hyundai dealer to get the request in.

@KCross thanks again for all the advise. I have sent into the boss and im now fairly confident it wont fall on deaf ears. And thanks for the advice for me. I think secretly im hoping to see if they consider me for a company EV. But that might be a stretch....

kevin16w

Can I just ask one more question, if i may be so bold.

I was advised against hybrid/PHEV at the energy event last year. Would that be correct.

I have just seen on the boards here conversations regarding the Kia Niro EV and PHEV. Altbeit the EV wont be released until early 2019 (perhaps), would the PHEV be unsuitable for me. I was thinking it may work that i drive in petrol/hybrid on motorway and then switch to EV when entering the nonsense that is city driving.

I would appreciate your opinions on this. I just like the look of the Niro and the larger size over the Kona.

KCross

Nearly all the PHEV's have batteries <10kWh so the EV only range is tiny.... 30-50km.

And the MPG figures you will see quoted will be for city like driving so on your long commute you wont get good MPG at all.
If you were just doing a lot of short city driving and wanted the flexibility for an occasional long journey then PHEV might suit.... you are the opposite to that.

You should hold out for the EV.

kevin16w

Perfect thanks so much KCross I will take on board.

KCross

kevin16w wrote: »

If you reckon July or even by September i think i will be getting into my hyundai dealer to get the request in.

I wouldn't hold your breath on getting a 64kWh Kona by then. It might happen but if I was a betting man(which I am... just won a few quid on the 2:50 in Cheltenham!), I'd say the long range Kona wont be on our roads before Sept and by the time they will be available people will probably wait until 191 to register them.... could be all wrong too and it will make 181.

Hyundai Ireland got a hopeless allocation of IONIQ's when they were released... it could be the same for the Kona.... its an unknown.... think of all those €400s in the next year!!!

You might also find the pricing a bit rich... the 64kWh is likely to be well north of €30k... maybe €35k?... are you willing to stump up that much?

unkel

KCross wrote: »

I wouldn't hold your breath on getting a 64kWh Kona by then. It might happen but if I was a betting man(which I am... just won a few quid on the 2:50 in Cheltenham!), I'd say the long range Kona wont be on our roads before Sept and by the time they will be available people will probably wait until 191 to register them.... could be all wrong too and it will make 181.

They won't be in the showroom until July, so they won't make 181. I would expect some on the road on 182 alright, but I'd say September is on the optimistic side.

KCross

Will they be the 64kWh version though?

My guess is it will be the short range version and maybe a few demo 64kWh versions. The numbers in 182 will be very small. Just my guess.

unkel

Think I saw somewhere that both will be available straight away. But agreed, the numbers will probably be small in 182