Nevo, Ireland’s dedicated electric vehicle platform with reviews and advice on every EV, is kicking off its inaugural electric vehicle show in partnership with Bank of Ireland at the RDS in Dublin on Saturday, February 17th.
The event will put over 30 electric car brands and their products in front of the public, together with experts from Bank of Ireland and Axa Insurance, able to give the show’s visitors advice and tips when it comes to finance and insurance for their next, or first, electric car.
“We’re positioning Nevo to be the number one go-to in the market when it comes to EVs,” Derek Reilly, general manager from Nevo told The Irish Times. “From reviews of all the new vehicles to working with stakeholders such as Bank of Ireland and Axa Insurance, it’s been a long time since Ireland had a motor show. So much has happened since then and it’s no longer just about the vehicles, there’s so much technology involved, and so many new brands launching into the market, so I think there’s no better time to have an event such as this for consumers to actually come and see the cars and speak directly to the experts.”
The event will showcase the largest number of automotive brands in one Irish location including MG, Maxus, Porsche, Tesla, BYD, Smart, Polestar, Hyundai, DS, Citroen, Peugeot, Opel, Jeep, Honda, Fiat, Volvo, Renault, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz Commercials, Polestar, KIA, BMW and Volvo, among others.
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Given the influx of new electric models hitting the market, head of growth for Nevo, Simon Andreucetti says that the show will be about meeting the demands of two distinct groups of Irish consumers. “Fifty per cent of the people we surveyed about visiting the show said that they were keen to see all the vehicles in one place, keen to understand the finance offerings, to understand the cost of the vehicles not just as new cars but over their lifetime” said Andreucetti. “The other 50 per cent said that they want to know more about the whole eco-system, such as charging at home, using solar power for charging, but they’re also looking at the infrastructure and asking whether this is the right time to buy an electric vehicle.”
Helping to answer the questions of both groups will be Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, or ZEVI, a Government department tasked with speeding up Ireland’s transition to all-electric motoring. “While we have made great progress to date, with over 110,000 vehicles currently electric, we need to move from the early adopters to the early and late majority” said Aoife O’Grady, head of ZEVI. “Communication and engagement is key to our work at ZEVI. Once people see the quality of electric vehicles currently available, and particularly how good a range is available on the latest models, they are normally pleasantly surprised. The Nevo show provides an ideal platform to share information on Ireland’s transition to electric. Attendees can learn more about the supports available for vehicles including grants for purchasing vehicles, home and apartment charging and reliefs on benefit-in-kind tax, VRT and the low rate of annual motor tax.”
Mind you, as O’Grady says, the show will also be an opportunity for those on the industry and government side of the electric car equation to meet the car-buying public and learn from them. “As we redirect our focus towards a public EV charging infrastructure, it is important that we learn from the consumers what are the barriers to EV adoption, what are the opportunities to help accelerate the transition, and what can we do together to achieve our targets” she said.
“Bank of Ireland’s presence at the Nevo Electric Vehicle Car show forms a major part of our drive to inform and educate the public about the range of new and existing finance options for EV purchases. We are proud to partner with Nevo and be the main sponsor of Ireland’s very first electric vehicle show” said Bank of Ireland’s marketing manager, Karen Kennedy.
“Bank of Ireland experts will attend the show to explain the finance journey and our range of products, clearly demonstrating how these products can help people make the move to electric,” she explains. “We will have a dedicated area at the show where our experts will discuss finance options such as hire purchase or personal contract plans, and advise on how to make an online finance application. In addition, live talks will be held focusing on the various Bank of Ireland’s initiatives designed to help customers embarking, or continuing, on their journey to buy a new electric vehicle.”
When it comes to insurance, Axa Insurance will be on hand at the show to guide consumers through the waters of covering such new technology. Its retail direct director, Mick Comerford told The Irish Times that as Ireland’s leading motor vehicle insurer its experience is that many EV owners find that their vehicles fit seamlessly into their lives. “As a result, they see themselves as regular car owners who are also keen on actively contributing to a greener future by using electric vehicles,” he explains. “Based on the feedback from our customers and the peace of mind they seek we are constantly updating our product features to include several EV specific enhancements, including specific cover for the vehicle’s battery, home wall charger cover, and the inclusion of energy failure in our optional car and key rescue and breakdown service, in case you accidentally run out of charge on your journey. Our roadside team will pick you up and bring you to the nearest charging point to help you get back on your journey as quickly as possible. There’s even third-party cover, so if someone trips over your cable in public, we will provide cover for injury or damage that you may be deemed legally liable for.”
The Irish Times is the media partner for the Nevo Electric Vehicles Show, and according to Irish Times motor section editor, Michael McAleer, 2024 is going to be a major year for electric motoring in Ireland: “We’re finally seeing the public charging network mature to a point where it’s much more useable, and the sheer number of genuinely exciting new electric models from manufacturers both familiar and new means that Irish consumers are going to have a broader, and more affordable, choice of EVs than ever before.”
Attendance at the Nevo electric vehicle show, in partnership with Bank of Ireland, takes place on Saturday, February 17th and is free. You can register for the ticketed event in advance for here. You are also entered into the draw to win a luxury weekend for two at Ashford Castle. For all details visit nevo.ie.
Bank of Ireland trading as Bank of Ireland Finance is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland
