Kerry tourism would face a hit if car rental sector is forced to make EV switch
Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú believes this will create a shortage in rental cars that will hurt tourism in places like Kerry resulting in lost jobs for coastal communities.
She added that it would create a knock-on impact for rural parts where tourists visit because they are able to readily avail of affordable rental cars.
'That is something I cannot stand over,' Ms Ní Mhurchú said, adding that she is 100 per cent in favour of electric vehicles but this is akin to putting the 'cart before the horse'.
Ms Ní Mhurchú said 'forcing' car rental companies to go electric before Ireland has the necessary infrastructure in place will damage rural tourism by making rental cars more expensive and less available.
She explained how the industry could not cope with such a burden and it would ultimately lead to less rental cars at a higher price.
'Irish tourism depends heavily on the car rental sector. Rental cars allow tourists to travel to remote parts of Ireland, where there isn't the necessary charging infrastructure. Tourists would be dependent on public charging points, and we just don't have enough in rural and remote parts of Ireland, as things stand,' she said.
At a Kerry County Council meeting in March, the precarious situation surrounding EVs and charging points was discussed – a situation that is already having a negative impact on tourism.
At that Tarbert Island Ferry Terminal – the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way in North Kerry – there is no EV charger between Tarbert and Ballyheigue, a distance of almost 70km.
In raising the issue, Fine Gael Councillor Mike Foley stated that Killimer Ferry Terminal in County Clare has a 47kW EV 'fast charger' available, yet none are available for nearly 70 kilometres in North Kerry.
He said one has to travel a further 18 kilometres to avail of a charger in Tralee, which Cllr Foley said is not ideal for tourism along the Wild Atlantic Way corridor.
The Car Rental Council of Ireland state there are higher maintenance costs associated with electric vehicles. The average cost of renting an electric car is currently 33 per cent higher than the average cost of renting a traditional car in Ireland.
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