ESB ecars has created the Esb.ie/ecars website to raise awareness about electric cars and their benefits and to help position Ireland as a leader in e-car development.
ESB ecars, which is rolling out the charging infrastructure and systems to support the introduction and demand for e-cars in Ireland, has launched the website to create a platform with informative content and engaging animations that outline developments in Ireland’s e-driving story to date as well as explaining how e-cars actually work.
Applications on the site include online registration for e-car charging and a countrywide Google map detailing where public charge points are currently located.
“The interface was designed to appear clean and efficient, just as e-cars are. The site seeks to make the user aware that this exciting development is happening here and now,” explains Dervla O’Flaherty, marketing manager, ESB ecars.
The website’s content also features a mix of animations and instructional pieces, video testimonials from e-car drivers, photo galleries, downloadable PDFs, info-graphics and diagrams and a news-feed.
Facebook e-car community
An ESB ecars Facebook site has also been launched to provide e-car enthusiasts and users with a platform for sharing ideas and experiences.
Future plans for the site include a charging payment portal for public charge points and e-CRM functionality.
E-cars and Ireland
ESB is working to help achieve the Government’s target of having 10pc of the Irish motoring fleet to be electric by 2020. It has plans for 1,500 on-street charge points, 2,000 domestic units and up to 30 fast chargers by the end of 2011. These fast chargers will be located along all major inter-urban routes, about 60km apart.
Earlier this month, PSA Peugeot Citroën announced it would be introducing two new electric cars to Ireland in 2011 – the Peugeot iOn and the Citroën C-Zero – as part of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Irish Government and ESB. At the announcement, Minister Eamon Ryan TD said grants of up to €5,000 for electric and €2,500 for hybrid cars will be available from 1 January 2011 to 2012.
In October 2010, Intel and ESB also signed an MOU to collaborate on the challenges of integrating electric vehicles into the electricity grid.
And, in May, ESB signed an MOU with Mitsubishi Motors to promote the e-car industry here.
