The Government's announcement of an extra €5,000 off the cost of a new electric car, especially for drivers in rural Ireland, really caught the imagination this month, and Nissan Ireland reckons that for those who move quickly with their 'ICE2EV' grant applications could bag themselves a new Nissan EV for not much money.
Why do they have to move quickly?
That's because the application process for the new 'ICE2EV' €5,000 grant opens on 1 July, and the expectation among experts is that the €10 million that the Government has set aside for the grant - €6.5 million of which is ring-fenced for buyers outside of the five major cities, who are trading in a car that's at least 13 years old - will run out pretty fast.
So how much can you save on a new Nissan?
Right, some maths. So there's the existing SEAI grant of €3,500 towards a new electric car. The ICE2EV grant tops that up by €5,000, for a potential total of €8,500 in grants for those who qualify. Then you can add in Nissan's own '€4k Your Way' offer for July registrations, which either gives you a €4,000 trade-in boost, or a €4,000 finance contribution, so you're looking at saving a potential €12,500 off the cost of a new Nissan.
That's quite a lot…
Yup. “This means that smart buyers can drive away in a brand-new Nissan Ariya from just €30,995, which is an incredible saving for a top of the range EV that is packed with safety features and connected technology,” said Neil O'Sullivan, Head of Sales at Nissan Ireland. “The first thing you notice when you sit into the Nissan Ariya is the premium feel and spacious interior, and now customers can have for it for less. It has two battery options, offering a range of up to 404 kilometres or 532 kilometres".
Is it just the Ariya that's on offer?
Not at all. The new Micra is also available with the maximum 'scrappage' grant and clocks in at €20,995 if you qualify. Or there's the new Nissan Leaf, whose price drops to just €29,995 with the 'scrappage' scheme, with a range of up to 622km.
You can read our Nissan Micra reviews here.
You can read our Nissan Leaf reviews here.
"A visit to your local Nissan dealer is always a smart move when it comes to buying an EV. Nissan has been selling electric cars for over 16 years, and you can trust and rely on your local dealer to find the electric car that is right for you,” said O'Sullivan. "We understand that there is a lot of terminology with EVs and that switching to electric can be daunting. Nissan are genuine EV experts, and we are here to guide you through your options, to answer your questions, and to help you make sense of the electrified landscape.”