Latest news with #lowincomehouseholds
Irish Times
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on EV sales: acceleration needed
Prices drive car sales. It's a self-evident truth, proven by numerous scrappage schemes, and the 2008 move to an emissions-based motor tax regime. So, a grant of up to €10,000 applied to electric cars would push the volumes towards the critical 16 per cent of vehicle stock, where research shows mass-market adoption is achieved. By the end of last year, Irish EV market adoption stood at 3 per cent. The proposed grant is one of the most eye-catching proposals in the Climate Change Advisory Council's latest annual review on transport. It cogently identifies the key hurdles to EV adoption: cost and charging infrastructure. On the cost side, it suggests a targeted grant scheme of up to €10,000, aimed specifically at lower income households in areas poorly served by public transport. However, the devil would be in the detail. Execution may prove complex, and administratively burdensome. Also, the range of new EVs within the proposed €35,000 price cap remains limited. Still, it reflects the need for innovative thinking. France, for example, offered 50,000 European-built EVs leased at €100 per month to low-income households. The scheme closed in January last year after just six weeks due to the high demand. Initially capped at 25,000 vehicles, subsidised to a maximum of €13,000 each, it had more than 90,000 applications. READ MORE For any consumer who finds an affordable EV option, the next big question is about charging. The report rightly highlights our poor performance compared to EU peers on public charging infrastructure. It identifies key sticking points, such as deploying neighbourhood charging for those without access to off-street parking. The council's review correctly identifies the key obstacles to EV adoption, and a €10,000 grant scheme, targeted at lower-income drivers, would supercharge sales. But without detail, infrastructure and swift Government action, the ambition may stall. Kudos to the council: now it's time for Government to move from recommendations to action.
Free Malaysia Today
24-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Indonesia to launch stimulus measures to boost spending
Chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto said the launch timeframe would provide momentum to boost purchasing power. (EPA Images pic) JAKARTA : Indonesia plans to announce economic stimulus measures on June 5 to revive activity and boost consumer purchasing power, hoping to push economic growth to around 5% this quarter, the coordinating ministry of economic affairs said on Saturday. 'These programmes are prepared to encourage growth by increasing consumption,' chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto said in a statement, adding that launching the measures before a school holiday starting in late June would provide momentum to boost purchasing power. Southeast Asia's largest economy grew 4.87% in the first quarter from the same period last year, its weakest in more than three years. The central bank trimmed its 2025 growth forecast to between 4.6% and 5.4% from a 4.7%-5.5% range. The ministry is still calculating the size of the stimulus package, which is meant to boost growth in the second and third quarters, a spokesperson said. The incentives include a 50% discount on electricity bills for around 79.3 million households and food handouts for 18.3 million lower-income households in June and July. The government also plans to give cash transfer for low-income workers and a discount on work accident insurance for workers in labour-intensive industries. To boost tourism, the government said there will be discounts on airfare, train and sea transportation rates during the school holiday, which runs through mid-July, and discounts on highway tolls for 110 million users in June and July, the ministry said.
Malay Mail
24-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Jakarta eyes 5pc GDP growth with electricity, transport and food subsidies for millions
JAKARTA, May 24 — Indonesia plans to announce economic stimulus measures on June 5 to revive activity and boost consumer purchasing power, hoping to push economic growth to around 5 per cent this quarter, the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Saturday. 'These programmes are prepared to encourage growth by increasing consumption,' chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto said in a statement, adding that launching the measures before a school holiday starting in late June would provide momentum to boost purchasing power. Southeast Asia's largest economy grew 4.87 per cent in the first quarter from the same period last year, its weakest in more than three years. The central bank trimmed its 2025 growth forecast to between 4.6 per cent and 5.4 per cent from a 4.7-5.5 per cent range. The ministry is still calculating the size of the stimulus package, which is meant to boost growth in the second and third quarters, a spokesperson said. The incentives include a 50 per cent discount on electricity bills for around 79.3 million households and food handouts for 18.3 million lower-income households in June and July. The government also plans to give cash transfer for low-income workers and a discount on work accident insurance for workers in labour-intensive industries. To boost tourism, the government said there will be discounts on airfare, train and sea transportation rates during the school holiday, which runs through mid-July, and discounts on highway tolls for 110 million users in June and July, the ministry said. — Reuters
