Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 22nd December, 2023.

I, EAMON RYAN, Minister for Transport, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 7 (1) and 19(1)(ca) (inserted by section 44 (c) of the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 (No. 16 of 2023)) of the Roads Act 1993 (No. 14 of 1993), hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Roads Act 1993 (Prescribed Zero to Low Emission Vehicles) Regulations 2023.

2. In these Regulations—

“electric vehicle” means a motor vehicle equipped with a powertrain containing at least one non-peripheral electric machine as energy converter with an electric rechargeable energy storage system, which can be recharged externally;

“heavy-duty vehicle” means—

(a) a Category M2 motor vehicle as described in Article 4(1), point (a)(ii),

(b) a Category M3 motor vehicle as described in Article 4(1), point (a)(iii),

(c) a Category N2 motor vehicle as described in Article 4(1), point (b)(ii), or

(d) a Category N3 motor vehicle as described in Article 4(1), point (b)(iii),

of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of 30 May 2018¹ ;

“light-duty vehicle” means—

(a) a Category M1 motor vehicle as described in Article 4(1), point (a)(i) (‘passenger cars’), or

(b) a Category N1 motor vehicle as described Article 4(1), point (b)(i) (‘light commercial vehicles’),

of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of 30 May 2018¹;

“plug-in hybrid vehicle” means an electric vehicle with a conventional combustion engine combined with an electric propulsion system which can be recharged from an external electric power source.

3. The following zero to low emission vehicles are prescribed for the purposes of section 19(1)(ca) (inserted by section 44 (c) of the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 (No. 16 of 2023)) of the Roads Act 1993 (No. 14 of 1993), namely:

(a) light-duty vehicles, and

(b) heavy-duty vehicles,

that are—

(i) electric vehicles,

(ii) plug-in hybrid vehicles, or

(iii) hydrogen powered vehicles.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

19 December, 2023.

EAMON RYAN,

Minister for Transport.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

These regulations prescribe the categories of zero to low emission vehicles in relation to which the National Roads Authority has the function of preparing, or arranging for the preparation of, schemes for the provision of a safe and efficient network of recharging infrastructure and refuelling infrastructure for such vehicles and providing and maintaining, or securing the provision and maintenance of, such a network.

1 O.J. No. L 151, 14.6.2018, p. 1