That's the expectation by Volkswagen Ireland, as expressed this morning at an online press event where details of the specification and pricing for the company's first dedicated electric car were detailed.
Brand Director for Volkswagen Ireland Rodolfo Calixto said the electric car 'journey' is only beginning in Ireland and 'still has a long road to go'.
There will be three versions of the ID.3 1st Edition, and deliveries of the car to those who have converted their initial bookings to firm orders will begin in September.
Range options will be 330km, 420km and 550km, with all 1st Edition versions in Ireland getting the 420km powertrain option as well as extra power, faster acceleration, and the ability to accept a faster recharging.
The 1st Edition prices begin at €33,625, with the 1st Plus clocking in at €40,595, and the 1st Max at €47,545. Standard features across the range include navigation with streaming and internet, adaptive cruise control, and LED lights front and rear. The Plus gets LED Matrix light at the front and configurable rear lights as well as rear view camera and 19-inch alloys. Among the extras for the Max are a fixed panoramic roof, electric front seats with massage, and 20-inch alloys.
Finance options for the ID.3 include the usual HP, PCP and Operational Lease, but there's an additional ID Plan which operates closer to contract operational lease than the private PCP.
Graham Lawless from Volkswagen Ireland said over 70pc of the company's customers here finance through Volkswagen's own bank. Of there, eight in ten opt for the PCP offer. Special financial incentives apply for the First Movers Club open to those who have pre-booked and are taking up their option.
A We Charge holistic electricity charging plan will integrate a dedicated app, home charging, and public charging through the Ionity/ESB/eCars charging points. The system includes maps and journey planning facilities, location and status of charge points, and the home wallboxes.
Three charging plans are offered, providing different tariff, matched to different kinds of usage.
Three different Wallboxes are available at installed prices from €1,155-€1,629. The mid-range offers 'smart' interaction, the most expensive a higher charging rate with 3-phase electricity.
Three levels of service packages for monthly fees of €12, €15, or €18 a month offer graded levels of maintenance, the top one including brake pads, wiper blades and tyres.
Volkswagen Ireland claims that when the prices are adjusted for specification differences and range, the ID.3 offers significant price advantages over key competitors Tesla Model 3, Nissan's Leaf, and Hyundai's Kona.
Graham Lawless told those at the webinar that the company believes ID.3 is 'the start of the game-changing' of electric cars in Ireland. "Customers want more ease of mobility, to buy cars with risk to their value, and also transparency of total running costs."
