IrishEVs explained

IrishEVs
Commercial:No
Language:English
Type:News
Editor:Tom Spencer
Current Status:Online

IrishEVs is a consumer advice website focusing on electric vehicles, renewable energy and the climate crisis in Ireland. The site was founded by journalist Tom Spencer,[1] [2] who previously wrote for Fully Charged,[3] [4] [5] and has covered a wide range of topics around the role of cars and transport in the context of climate change – with the transport sector accounting for 20% of Ireland's total greenhouse gas emissions.[6] [7] [8] [9]

IrishEVs has also covered a wide range of renewable energy topics, including solar power, wind power, energy policy, cycling infrastructure, just transition, environmental policy, air pollution and climate anxiety.[10] [11] [12] [13]

IrishEvs publishes stories on a wide range of topics that are cited by mainstream media such as The Irish Times,[14] [15] Irish Examiner,[16] CleanTechnica,[17] Gizmodo,[18] Jalopnik[19] and RTÉ.[20] The publication has also contributed to the Oireachtas committee on Climate Action, providing expert input on transport emissions, and led a campaign to introduce engine idling laws in Ireland.[21] [22]

Just climate transition

The publication has gained particular renown for promoting a just transition in the face of the climate crisis - both at home and abroad.[23] [24] In particularly, IrishEVs has repeatedly called on the Irish government to support lower income families and individuals in adopting electric vehicles.[25] [26]

IrishEVs has highlighted the considerable cost gap between the average income and the cost of new electric cars in Ireland, and urged the Irish government to increase incentives while also doing more to import second-hand electric vehicles from the UK to meet demand for affordable EVs - the UK being the only local source of right-hand drive vehicles, and a more mature market in terms of EV adoption.[27] [28]

As of November 2021, the average annual salary in Ireland is €49,000, while the average new battery electric vehicle costs €47,300, even after the deduction of up to €10,000 in incentives from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.[29]

IrishEVs has led on coverage relating to electric vehicle conversion as part of a just climate transition, where existing internal combustion engine vehicles can be converted to run as pure battery electric vehicles in order to reduce waste which also tackling emissions and providing a supply of affordable second-hand EVs.[30] [15] [31]

Greenwashing reporting

While IrishEVs initially tackled the common myths and misconceptions around electric cars in order to educate the public about their benefits compared to internal combustion engine vehicles,[32] [33] [34] the site has since gained a reputation for tackling greenwashing in the automotive and fuel industries.[35] [36]

The site was the first to break the Applegreen greenwashing controversy, where the fuel brand had claimed to offset the emissions of its premium fuels, but neglected to inform the public that this did not include the emissions from extraction or refinement – which typically account for up to 40% of the total greenhouse gas emissions from petrol and diesel.[37] [38] Nor did Applegreen's marketing acknowledge that the trees being planted to carbon offset the emissions could take upwards of 30 years to capture the emissions that they claimed.[39]

IrishEVs has also been a leading voice in the Irish media about the ecological and climate harm caused by hybrid vehicles, and how manufacturers – Toyota in particular – are using greenwashing campaigns to aid their public image without lowering the emissions of their vehicles.[40] A 2020 report found that carbon emissions from plug-in hybrid vehicles, on average, two-and-a-half times higher than official tests indicate, mirroring the Volkswagen emissions scandal.[41]

IrishEVs also played a key role in the reporting of the Astongate greenwashing scandal in 2020, which involved a number of well-known brands spreading misinformation about electric vehicles in the wake of the UK's declaration to end the sale of combustion engine vehicles from 2030.[42] [43]

In February 2022, IrishEVs launched the Irish Greenwashing Awards to raise awareness of how commonplace greenwashing had become amongst corporations operating in Ireland, and amongst the Irish press itself, and to call for urgent legislation to protect Irish citizens from brands seeking to profit from the Climate Crisis.[44] [45] [46]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom Spencer of IrishEVs on the benefits of electric vehicles . Irish Tech News . 24 July 2020.
  2. Web site: A day in the life of Tom Spencer, Editor of IrishEVs, an independent consumer advice website that seeks to improve awareness and fight common myths about electric cars. Go Wild Magazine . 13 May 2021.
  3. Web site: Why EV battery recycling is set to take off . . 9 April 2020.
  4. Web site: Why EVs are cheaper to run . Fully Charged . 13 November 2019.
  5. Web site: How can EVs support energy independence? . Fully Charged. 19 February 2020.
  6. Web site: The EPA's Role in addressing climate change. Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
  7. Web site: Lack of second-hand electric cars a ‘real barrier’ to affordability. Irish Examiner . 27 September 2023.
  8. Web site: Government target of 950,000 EVs by 2030 branded ‘nonsensical’. Irish Examiner . 4 July 2023.
  9. Web site: Abolition of toll discounts latest blow to electric vehicle users. The Irish Times . 16 November 2023.
  10. Web site: Can I still import a used car?. . 24 January 2021.
  11. Web site: ‘The maths doesn’t stack up’: EV owner says budget offers no incentive to switch . Irish Examiner . 10 October 2023.
  12. Web site: ‘If everyone lived like we do in Ireland, today the world would have used up its 2023 resources . Irish Mirror . 21 April 2023.
  13. Web site: Climate anxiety can feel like ‘there’s no safe harbour’ . Bloomberg . 16 February 2024.
  14. News: Time's up for idling car engines . . 10 January 2021.
  15. News: Recycle your car by electrifying your engine . The Irish Times . 14 March 2021.
  16. Web site: Irish Examiner View: Clean air campaign – Time to stop engine idling . . 3 June 2020.
  17. Web site: How PR agencies are greenwashing the climate crisis via disinformation campaigns . . 7 December 2020.
  18. Web site: Renault suggests hydrogen might be the future of Formula One. . 12 October 2020.
  19. Web site: Renault suggests hydrogen might be the future of Formula One. . 11 October 2020.
  20. Web site: Budget makes efficient cars more attractive – provided you can afford to chang. . 14 October 2020.
  21. Web site: Bonkers video shows mile-long queue forming as McDonad's in Nutgrove, Dublin reopens. . 20 May 2020.
  22. Web site: Campaign for Irish government to introduce engine idling laws to fight climate crisis. Irish Tech News . 2 June 2020.
  23. Web site: Irish are among the planet's top polluters and causing a strain on the world's resources. Buzz.ie . 20 April 2023.
  24. Web site: 'If everyone lived like we do in Ireland, today the world would have used up its 2023 resources'. Irish Mirror . 20 April 2023.
  25. Web site: Ford's electric pickup highlights an unjust climate transition . IrishEVs . 20 May 2021.
  26. Web site: Low income and isolated households need help to access electric car market. Irish Examiner . 28 October 2021.
  27. Web site: Can I still import a used car?. Irish Independent . 24 January 2021.
  28. Web site: Removing tax relief could add €4,000 to cost of an electric car. Irish Examiner . 29 September 2021.
  29. Web site: EV experts call for greater incentives in next Budget. Irish Tech News . 1 October 2021.
  30. News: Una Mullally: target of a million electric vehicles on our roads lacks cop-on. The Irish Times . 15 November 2021.
  31. Web site: Why converting your car to electric could be the future. RTE . 28 July 2022.
  32. Web site: Ireland fourth most expensive country to charge an electric car . RTE . 15 April 2021.
  33. Web site: Range anxiety is a myth – why?. Irish Tech News . 10 August 2020.
  34. Web site: Why electric vehicles are supporting energy independence. Irish Tech News . 29 July 2020.
  35. Web site: Hybrid vehicles – the self-charging myth. Irish Tech News . 10 August 2020.
  36. Web site: Irish Examiner view: Verification has huge role in climate wars. Irish Examiner. 29 May 2021.
  37. Web site: Applegreen-washing: separating action from marketing ploys . IrishEVs . 19 September 2020.
  38. Web site: The problem with PR- How PR agencies are greenwashing the climate crisis through disinformation campaigns . IrishEVs . 23 November 2020.
  39. Web site: The rise of greenwashing. Misinformation, profits & passing the buck . IrishEVs . 22 November 2020.
  40. Web site: Claims about environmental benefits of hybrid vehicles 'greenwashing'. Irish Examiner . 29 May 2021.
  41. News: Plug-in hybrid emissions 2.5 times higher than official tests indicate – environmental groups claim. The Irish Times . 16 September 2020.
  42. Web site: Understanding 'Astongate' – Another brand embroiled in disinformation campaign. IrishEVs . 30 November 2020.
  43. Web site: Aston Martin in row over 'sock puppet PR firm' pushing anti-electric vehicle study. . 2 December 2020.
  44. Web site: Irish Greenwashing Awards call out misinformation. CleanTechnica . 21 February 2022.
  45. Web site: Greenwashing Awards' worthy winners. The Phoenix . 24 February 2022.
  46. Web site: Fossil fuel companies accused of greenashing. RTE . 22 February 2022.

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