A Waterford car salesman says when it comes to budgetary measures to encourage drivers to switch to electric cars, the devil is in the detail.
As part of budget 2018, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe announced a 0 per cent rate of benefit in kind for electric vehicles, for a period of one year.
It's to allow for a review of the sector before next year’s budget.
Waterford Toyota dealer Bill McConnell says the impact of this won't be clear until the government releases its financial plan.
He says there are also questions around the 1 year, zero per cent term.
"Nobody is going to go out and buy a car on the basis that they pay no benefit in kind this year, but it might be payable next year."
Bill McConnell also welcomed the fact that petrol and diesel prices were untouched in Budget 2018.
"The most important thing in the motor trade is consistency... that they don't suddenly devalue all the diesels in the country by giving unreasonable advantage to the electric car. If they want to they should give a small advantage and let people decide for themselves."
