ESB boss demands electric car investment

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) in Ireland is pushing for the widespread use of electricity to power the country’s transport.

Padraig McManus, chief executive of the ESB, is calling on the Irish government to give financial backing to the introduction of electric cars.

Speaking at the Irish Management Institute national conference, McManus said that electricity is the cleanest form of energy currently available for powering cars.

He added that to recharge all the cars in Ireland would only require 2,000mw of electricity. The current grid capacity in Ireland is over 5,000 mw, and most cars would be charged at night when electricity demand is lowest.

McManus also attacked Ireland’s railways, pointing out that only 3% of railway lines in Ireland are powered by electricity, compared to 85% in Belgium.

Finally, McManus said that given the rising prices of natural resources such as oil and gas, it is imperative that more money is invested in renewable sources.

The ESB is currently working towards having zero net carbon emissions by 2035.