Drive4Zero is a unique initiative – a ground-up project where stakeholders aim to increase the number of electric cars on the road in Cork. Drive4Zero worked with industry stakeholders to offer a range of benefits to potential electric car owners.
The support of large Cork employers in facilitating at-work charging infrastructure was crucial in making Drive4Zero a success.
Drive4Zero has been made possible by the support of a wide range of local and national stakeholders including: Energy Cork; MaREI (UCC); Cork City Council, Cork County Council, QPark, ESB ecars, Direct Route, AIB, Cork Chamber and SEAI, along with four electric car manufacturers: Nissan; Renault; BMW and Mitsubishi.
The initiative offered the following benefits to participants:
• Zero percent financing agreed with car dealers
• Zero electric car charging costs at all participating companies.
• Zero cost parking in the city centre for EV owners
• Preferential parking at all participating companies in dedicated Ecar parking spaces
• Zero cost use of over 60 eCars until the end of the year to disseminate the technology
• Zero M8 toll charge for EVs
Impact:
The target of Drive4Zero was to double the number of EVs in Cork in 2015, from 33 EVs at the end of 2014. In fact, 78 new EVs were sold in 2015. This is a 264% increase.
Drive4Zero targeted 20 new charge points at 10 (workplace) locations. In fact, 24 were installed at 9 locations.
There were also 650 Q Park parking spaces allocated.
Drive4Zero sought to issue 1 M8 (Fermoy) toll card (20 free trips) to each new EV. In fact, 25 were issued to 78 cars.
