78% of all new cars sold in Norway are pure electric

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117987725#Comment_117987725

That's an issue, there's no denying it. I do not recommend owning an EV in Ireland if you can't charge it at home or at work. That said, the majority of EV buyers in the likes of Norway or the Netherlands do not have their own driveway either and charging over there is not a problem. I'm the first to say that public charging in Ireland is very far behind those countries though. And it largely being under control of a tax payer funded, uninterested semi-state company doesn't help either

I wonder sometimes if the lack of enthusiasm from the ESB could also be down to forecasts of tight supplies?

Also compared to NL, densities in rural Ireland are extremely low.

National population density:

508 per Km2 - NL

72 per Km2 - IRL and it goes as low as 20/km2 in counties like Leitrim.

So on average there's more than 7 times more people per square km in somewhere like the Netherlands.

However, the lack of charging in Irish urban areas is still inexcusable.

Terrace housing could be solved easily enough with a standardised, attractive looking charging pole design and permits to run cables under footpaths. Or, some kind of arrangement where charger sockets could be installed on existing lampposts somehow.

Or, simpler still, you can install a slot in pavements with a cover, which allows someone to pass a charging cable quite easily.

In NL they've stuff like https://chargearm.com

I've no doubt we'd fine 1,000,001 ways why any of these solutions are technically or legally impossible here though. We don't really do practically, just litigiousness.

Cdemess

Sadly, the chargearm wouldn’t work over here - the council would require it to luminous colours and flashing lights at night so that those unfortunate 9 foot children don’t get whiplash and try and sue the owner.

denismc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117987707#Comment_117987707

How will the petrol pumps work if there's no electricity?

If there are blackouts it is most likely to be around peak demand rather than off peak when most people charge their cars.

elperello

Most second hand buyers cant buy an EV simply because the supply is not there.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117990818#Comment_117990818

It's still likely to put people off though.

josip

Norwegians are a bunch of hypocrites.

Not shy at all about saying "look what a progressive, EV promoting country we are", and only being able to afford it because of all the oil and gas they sell to the rest of us.

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117991082#Comment_117991082

What's hypocritical about that? Sounds like you are a bit jealous if I'm honest. They got lucky with their natural resources. Fair play to them.

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117992090#Comment_117992090

Jealous of their wealth yes. Not jealous of Norway/Norwegians and I've lived in Oslo for 6 months.

The hypocritical bit is being obviously aware of the damage being done to the climate and domestically switching to EV big time and divesting fossil fuel companies from their investment fund.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/08/norways-1tn-wealth-fund-to-divest-from-oil-and-gas-exploration

But yet keeping production going on their oil and gas fields via Statoil/Equinor and not taking any financial hit themselves. If you've ever met a Norwegian, you'll know they love the feel of money.

unkel

Norway was with Ireland about the poorest country in Europe 50 years ago until they struck gold. Fair play to them. If you found a pot of gold, would you give it away for free? Of course you wouldn't. You'd make sure you and your children and the rest of the people around you would benefit to the max from it.

sh81722

What I like about Norway is that the politics seem to be big into long term planning and not quick wins on the short term. It's a big difference from say Saudi Arabian approach. The vast oil fund is one example of that and national projects can be financed from the dividents of it. When you travel in Norway everything just works but nothing seems particularly extravagant.

unkel

When we had it good in the late 90s and 00s and there was surplus money, it was mostly just given away to higher public service wages by Santi Berti. Now we have nothing to show for it.

sh81722

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117993219#Comment_117993219

Don't forget the consultants, unkel. The lack of accountability seems to be the key real reasons why all the public projects always end up costing more and delivering less. Private projects like the national motorway network got built double quick here which was impressive really. Compare this to metro North, a project that has been in talks since at least the 90's. The completion of if aways appears to be about 8-12 years in the future.

Creadit where the credit is due: The Covid-19 vaccination program has been surprisingly effective.

MightyMunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117987707#Comment_117987707

Makes no sense, peak power disruption would likely impact you in the garage getting petrol on the way to/from work more than at 3am when your EV would be charging.

PHEV the worst of both worlds, plug in twice a day instead of twice a week. Charges slowly, lug a battery around on long trips reducing fuel efficiency or lug an engine around reducing range. Donysee why they're being encouraged, just a way for car companies to keep selling as always and slowing the transition

slave1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117993219#Comment_117993219

We got decent roads, 'tis about it

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117996424#Comment_117996424

Indeed. That was almost entirely paid for by the EU though. Cost the Irish taxpayer almost nothing.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117992090#Comment_117992090

We have our own Natural resources and our Government gave them away biggest gobshites Irish Government even to this day. No other country would be so stupid.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117996780#Comment_117996780

You not think we've paid that back ? the thick Irish Government signed a contract with the contractors for the M3 motorway and have to pay millions a year because the road is "under used"

Money is spent so foolishly by our Government, look at all the People who Quit work and get the covid payments without the means to monitor and supervise or all those who went back to their home countries still receiving the payment!

Want to tax the crap out of us! Next weeks budget is going to be fun and no doubt they'll push more people into poverty through higher carbon taxes.