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What is the Low Emissions Vehicle Toll Incentive (LEVTI)?

LEVTI Scheme set to conclude on the 31st of December 2023.

The ‘Low Emissions Vehicle Toll Incentive (LEVTI) Scheme’ will conclude on the 31st of December 2023.

 Introduced in 2018, the tolling scheme has been administrated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on behalf of Department of Transport.

 Originally scheduled to close in 2022, LEVTI was extended until December 31st, 2023, and available for the first 50,000 eligible vehicles. With the target on track, new applications will no longer be accepted from 1st November 2023.

 Government investment for electric vehicles will continue to rebalance towards supporting EV charging infrastructure. This change aligns with similar polices in European nations, where countries including Norway, Germany and France have begun to curb vehicle subsidies and government investment in EVs is moving towards infrastructure.

The following information is for existing LEVTI customers for eligible passages made up until 31st December 2023.

Under the 2023 Budget, Department of Transport (DoT) secured funding to support a reduced tolling scheme for LEVs, broadening the previous Electric Vehicle Toll Incentive Scheme. This LEV Scheme will be funded under the Carbon Reduction Programme, with the objective of reducing transport emissions and building a climate resilient low carbon transport sector by 2050. The tolling Scheme will be administrated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on behalf of DoT.

The Scheme is referred to as the ‘Low Emissions Vehicle Toll Incentive (LEVTI) Scheme’.

The Scheme is an expansion on the previous Electric Vehicle Toll Incentive Scheme that commenced in June 2018; it will run until December 31st 2023 (or up to a maximum of c. 50,000 LEVs).

Each year funding for the Scheme will be determined by the DoT. The Scheme rules and applicable incentives / refunds are subject to change, with the new refunds and relevant terms and conditions being determined by the DoT in advance of the calendar year.

How do I qualify for the Scheme?

To participate in the Scheme, Eligible Toll Users must meet the following criteria within one of the three sub-categories:

  1. Passenger Cars and Light Goods Vehicles;
  2. Small Passenger Public Services Vehicle (SPSV); or
  3. Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDV).

See the below Sections 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 for further details.

All Eligible Toll Users across each of these categories must satisfy the below criteria:

  • The LEVTI Scheme will apply to the first 50,000 eligible vehicles approved for the Scheme or until its expected conclusion c. 31st December 2023.
  • The Scheme refunds vary depending on the toll collection location, the toll transaction time and day, the eligible vehicle type (e.g. BEV, PHEV, FCEV) and class (i.e. private, light goods vehicle, SPSV and HDV). Refer to Section III for the peak and off-peak times defined under the Scheme, and Section IV for the applicable refunds.
  • The eligible vehicle must be registered and approved for the LEVTI Scheme by a participating LEVTI Tag Provider.
  • The eligible vehicles require an On Board Unit (OBU) as supplied by a LEVTI Tag Provider. The eligible vehicles can only be registered once for the LEVTI Scheme, i.e. the eligible vehicle cannot be registered with more than one LEVTI Tag Provider at the same time.
  • The eligible vehicle must be registered in the EU or UK, with evidence available to prove the same.
1.1  LEV Passenger Cars and Light Goods Vehicles

Under this category, Eligible Toll Users must meet the following criteria:

  1. Have an eligible vehicle such as a:
  • Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV): A vehicle that is powered by an electric battery which can only be charged and re-charged by plugging in to an external electric power source.
  • Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV): A vehicle which is powered by a fuel cell in combination with a battery or supercapacitor, to power the vehicles electric motor.
  • Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) with CO2 emissions of 50gm per km, or less: A vehicle powered by a battery which may be charged and re-charged by plugging it in to an external electric power source as well by its on-board engine and generator.

Light goods vehicles will be eligible under this category if they meet the above criteria and have a design gross weight not exceeding 3,500 kilogrammes.

  • Conventional hybrid vehicles are not covered by the Scheme.
  1.  Electric motorcycles are included as part of the Scheme.

2.1.   Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSV)

Under the SPSV category (i.e. Taxis, Hackneys and Limousines), the criteria for the eligible vehicle is as per the LEV Passenger Cars and Light Goods Vehicles. The available refund for SPSV’s differs however as referred below.

3.1.  Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDV)

Under this category, Eligible Toll Users must meet the following criteria:

 

  1. The vehicle must be a HDV (i.e. a vehicle exceeding 3,500 kg). This includes trucks, buses and coaches.
  2. The vehicle must be one of the following:
    • A Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuelled vehicle
    • A Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fuelled vehicle
    • A Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)
    • Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
    • Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
  • Conventional Hybrid Vehicles are not covered by the scheme.

How much do I save?

The scheme refunds vary depending on the toll collection location, the toll transaction time and day, the Eligible Vehicle type (i.e. BEV, PHEV, FCEV) and class (i.e. private, light goods vehicle, SPSV and HDV). Refer to the below tables containing peak and off-peak times, and applicable scheme refunds and Maximum Refund Limit per Calendar Year (incl. Vat) as defined under the scheme.

Scheme Refunds Avaliable*
Toll Road M50 Dublin Tunnel All Other Toll Roads
Applicable Days Mon-Fri Weekend/public ho. Mon-Fri Weekend/public ho. Everyday
Applicable Period Off Peak On Peak All day Off Peak On Peak All day All day
Private Vehicles
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) 75% 50% 75% 50% N/A 50% 50%
Fuel Cell Electric
Vehicle (FCEV)		 75% 50% 75% 50% N/A 50% 50%
Plug
in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)		 50% 25% 50% 25% N/A 25% 25%
Light Goods
Vehicles
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) 75% 50% 75% 50% N/A 50% 50%
Fuel Cell Electric
Vehicle (FCEV)		 75% 50% 75% 50% N/A 50% 50%
Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) 50% 25% 50% 25% N/A 25% 25%
Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV)
Battery Electric
Vehicle (BEV)		 75% 50% 75% 50% N/A 50% 50%
Fuel Cell Electric
Vehicle (FCEV)		 75% 50% 75% 50% N/A 50% 50%
Plug in Hybrid
Electric Vehicle
(PHEV)		 50% 25% 50% 25% N/A 25% 25%
Heavy Duty Vehicles
HDV’s fuelled by
CNG, LNG, FCEV
or BEV		 50% 50% 50% 75%** 50%** 50% 50%
Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) 50% 25% 50% 50%** 25%** 25% 25%
*Maximum refund cap of 500 for private vehicles and SPSV’s – PHEV / 1,000 for Light Goods Vehicles, HDV and SPSV – BEV, SPSV – FCEV
** Note, Dublin Tunnel is currently toll free for:
a) Vehicles with a design gross weight exceeding 3,500kg and b) Buses or coaches with seating for greater than 25 passengers and c) Exemption Card Holders. The HDV toll refund presented in the above table for the Dublin Tunnel is therefore associated with Coaches and Bus that meet the scheme criteria, exceeding 3,500kg in design gross weight, and with a seating for 25 passengers or less

Peak Time Definitions

Scheme Peak / Off Peak Times
Toll Road Applicable Period Mon Fri
M50 Peak Time 07:00-10:00 16:00-19:00
Off Peak Time All times outside of peak*
Dublin Tunnel Southbound – towards Dublin City Peak Time 06:00 – 10:00
Off Peak Time All times outside of peak*
Dublin Tunnel Northbound – towards Dublin City Peak Time 16:00-19:00
Off Peak Time All times outside of peak*
*weekend and public holidays are considered off-peak

I already have a conventional hybrid. Does that qualify for the scheme?

Conventional Hybrid Vehicles will not be considered under the scheme. The vehicle must be a Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) vehicle with CO2 emissions of 50gm per km or less.

When does the scheme start?

The Scheme is an expansion on the previous Electric Vehicle Toll Incentive Scheme that commenced in June 2018; it will run until December 31st, 2023 (or up to a maximum of c. 50,000 LEVs.). Vehicle toll refunds can be availed of on toll transactions that take place after the vehicle has been accepted and registered into the scheme, and after the commencement date.

When does the scheme end?

The scheme is expected to run until the 31st December 2023. However, the scheme rules and applicable incentives / refunds are subject to change, with the new refunds and relevant terms and conditions being announced by the DoT in advance of each calendar year.

More information

  • Participating Toll Tag Providers can be found here
  • Scheme Terms and Conditions can be found here
  • Frequently Asked Questions can be found here
  • A copy of the LEVTI Information Leaflet can be found here
  • For more information on Electric Vehicles and other Electric Vehicles incentives in Ireland, please visit Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland