Tag Archive: Ireland

  1. Irish Transport Minister announces grant for electric motorcycles

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    Source: Limerick Live

    Ireland’s government has announced a range of new initiatives designed to accelerate the switch to electric mobility, with grants for electric motorcycles a key part of the plans, alongside a pilot for shared home charging options.

    The Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, announced grants for electric motorcycles, alongside other schemes. The L Category Grant Scheme is an initiative specifically offering financial support towards the purchase of new electric motorbikes. The scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and funded by the Department of Transport and Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), and offers grants of between €500 to €1,000 for a variety of electric vehicle categories.

    O’Brien said, “These grants are another step towards creating a cleaner, more sustainable transport system in Ireland, and complement existing supports for electric cars, commercial vans and charging infrastructure. These initiatives reflect our Government’s commitment to a zero-emission future, providing individuals and businesses with the tools needed to help make the transition.”

    In addition to the grants, a Shared Charging Pilot Scheme was also announced, aiming to address the challenge of access to home-charging facilities. The pilot programme, due to be rolled out in urban, suburban and rural areas, will enable homeowners to rent out their EV chargers through a booking platform, helping to bring cost-effective charging options to EV owners who don’t have private off-street parking facilities.

  2. Ireland legalizes e-scooters

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    E-scooters can be legally used on Irish roads since 20 May 2024. The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 created a new vehicle class called powered personal transporters.

    You do not need a licence to ride one and your e-scooter does not need to be registered, taxed or insured. You must be 16 or over to use an e-scooter. An e-scooter must have a CE mark and the retailer must give you a declaration of conformity when you buy it.

    Technical requirements

    In Ireland, e-scooters must:

    • Weigh a maximum of 25 kilograms (including batteries)
    • Travel at speeds of 20 km/h or less
    • Have an electric motor with a maximum power output of 400 watts or less
    • Have wheels of at least 200mm diameter
    • Have front and rear lights (switched on during lighting-up hours and darkness), reflectors, front and rear brakes, and a bell
    • Have a manufacturer’s plate showing the power output, weight, and design speed
    • Be in roadworthy condition

    Rules on using e-scooters

    Where you can use an e-scooter

    • E-scooters can be used on local, regional, and national roads. They cannot be used on motorways.
    • You can use cycle and bus lanes.
    • You must drive on the left.
    • You must not use an e-scooter on footpaths, pedestrianised areas or on motorways.
    • E-scooters are not allowed on State provided public transport, Luas, rail, or bus services (due to concerns with lithium batteries).

    Rules of the road

    • Follow the rules of the road, especially for traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, and zebra crossings.
    • You must follow signals given by a Garda or school warden.
    • Gardaí can confiscate e-scooters ridden by people under 16.
    • Only one person can ride an e-scooter at a time.
    • E-scooters are not designed for carrying goods or passengers.
    • You must not park an e-scooter in no-parking zones like loading bays, accessible parking and charging bays.
    • You must not use your mobile phone while driving an e-scooter.

    You do not need:

    • A vehicle registration plate
    • Motor tax
    • A driving licence
    • Compulsory insurance

  3. Many e-scooters and e-bikes to be “treated just like bikes” under new Irish law

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    Source: Newstalk

    New Irish road safety legislation will categorise e-scooters and e-bikes similarly to traditional manual bikes, according to Irish transport consultant Conor Faughnan.

    The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law in June 2023, and has given the green light for regulations to govern e-scooters for the first time. Although the comprehensive regulations are not yet available, Faughnan told The Pat Kenny Show that this legislation will treat most electric bikes and e-scooters the same as regular pedal bikes.

    “In the primary legislation, we know the maximum speed [for e-scooters] is going to be 25 kilometres per hour. The new law says an e-bike is grand – if it’s a light vehicle, if it’s 25km/h, then for all legal purposes, it’s a bike. Whenever you see in the law “bicycle” think “e-bike” – they have the same rules,” explained Faughnan.

    E-bikes typically have average speeds ranging from 20 to 25 kilometres per hour, whereas e-scooters have an average speed between 25 to 48 kilometres per hour. According to Faughnan, this new legislation around the speed and power of electric scooters and bikes follows a trend in most European countries.

    Faughnan emphasized that integrating legislation for e-bikes and e-scooters with regular bicycles will contribute to the safe operation of these electric vehicles, and people shouldn’t be intimidated by their seemingly faster speeds.

    “If you just forget the engineer or the motor for the moment, [fast cyclists] exist already, imagine the guys zipping down the hills in their spandex, cycling at very fast speeds. In town, a lot of new cycle tracks… they have plastic bollards, and the cyclists are single-file. That’s quite frustrating if you’re on a big bike and you’ve got a lot of steam or you’re trying to get into town, and there’s a slow-moving mum with kids on a ‘trike’. It’s no different really whether the bike is e-powered. The simple rule of thumb is ‘it’s a bike’, until it gets too big and then it’s a moped.”

  4. Ireland announces increase in Cargo Bike support under Bike to Work scheme

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    Source: Gov.ie

    Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has welcomed the decision to include a new higher limit for Cargo Bikes in the revised Bike to Work Scheme announced this month as part of the Finance Bill.

    The updated scheme sees a subsidy increase to €3,000 for Cargo Bikes – in recognition of their higher initial cost. Previously the available limit was linked to that available for bicycles (€1,250) and electric-assist bicycles (€1,500). Therefore, support for Cargo Bike purchases has now been doubled.

    Minister Ryan shared, “This increase will help make cargo bikes more affordable for those choosing to purchase a new bike under the bike-to-work scheme. Cargo bikes have become more popular in recent years with many people using them to bring their kids to school, for shopping and for work purposes as delivery vehicles. The cost factor, however, is an impediment to many people who may want to buy one. We hope that by increasing the limits for cargo bikes, more people will be able to choose them as a more sustainable way to get around.

    “We also need to see our courier and delivery companies moving at a faster pace from vans and trucks to cargo bikes and we are looking at ways of supporting this transformation, specifically for the last mile element of their deliveries.

    “The coming years will see a re-allocation of road space away from private vehicles towards public transport and space for people walking and cycling and cargo bikes will play a large part in how we use our roads. I look forward to seeing many more cargo bikes on our roads over the coming years, helped by this decision today to make them more affordable.”

    The Bike to Work Scheme aims to encourage the public to cycle to and from work. The initiative allows employees to give part of their salary for a bicycle and/or safety equipment, which should be used primarily for travelling to and from work. The purchase is not taxable benefit-in-kind and can be made in any shop.

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