Key objectives of the initiative are to promote awareness about electric cars through the experiences of the ecar ambassadors, use the nationwide charging infrastructure and collect data research during the course of the trial.
Eleven men and eight women with a wide range of interests and lifestyles have been selected to share their experiences on TV, radio, and online as well as through surveys and questionnaires.
The ecar ambassadors come from: Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Leitrim, Limerick, Louth, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow. There was a 64:36 male-female gender ratio of entries; 80% were between the ages of 25-54 with the highest number of entries from Dublin (26%), Cork (12%), Kildare (6%) and Galway (6%).
Glenisk, the Irish organic food company, has been selected as the commercial ecar ambassador and will drive a Renault Kangoo Z.E. 100% electric van for one year. Rusheen Bay Windsurfing School, based in Galway, will trial a Smith Edison electric vehicle to transport equipment to and from water sports locations.
Speaking at the announcement, John McSweeney, Head of Innovation, ESB, said: "The Great Electric Drive offers the general public a wonderful opportunity to test out the concept of electric driving as part of a year-long trial.
"Research about the attitudes and behaviour of early adopters, such as the ecar ambassadors, is vitally important to help us to gain a better insight into the driving patterns, charging requirements and the needs of drivers."
The ecar ambassadors will drive one of the following electric car models: Nissan LEAF, Mitsubishi iMiEV or Renault Kangoo Z.E. commercial van.
Each ecar ambassador will have a charge point installed in their home or workplace and will also power up by using the public charge point network that is being rolled out by ESB ecars and now covers 82% of all major towns and cities in the Republic of Ireland.
Drivers will also be able to travel to Northern Ireland as the charging infrastructure and charge point access cards (used to access the public charge points) are compatible on both sides of the border.
