Despite a 25% drop in electric car sales in Ireland during 2024, there are signs of optimism for the future. November saw a 59.3% surge in sales, potentially signaling a shift towards electric vehicles. However, concerns about charging infrastructure persist as a barrier to wider adoption.
More models are coming on stream across the price range but charging infrastructure remains a concern for motorists
Nevertheless, we enter 2025 – a mere half-decade from the purported 2030 cut-off in the sales of new petrol and diesel cars – with trepidation when it comes to EVs. Will a car-buying public seemingly unconvinced by the lure of electric motoring continue to shun battery power in the coming year? “It’s also important to recognise that the benefits of driving electric far outweigh perceived negatives. As we strive to achieve our climate objectives, changing our driving behaviour and embracing electric cars will become the new normal.”
While that is true, it seems to wilfully ignore the fact that people want and need their cars to be more flexible and usable than the “most people only driving 16km a day” statistic. People are not statistics and few lives conform to averages. According to a recent survey of Irish attitudes to electric cars, carried out by Volkswagen Ireland, the charging network still represents a considerable hurdle.
Perhaps more significantly, there is now a glut of EV models arriving into the Irish market priced at less than €30,000, and quite a lot less in some cases. The Dacia Spring and Hyundai Inster are both compact crossover models which have starting prices of €16,990 and €18,995 respectively, while the incoming Citroen e-C3 and the hopelessly gorgeous 1980s-look Renault R5 E-Tech will be priced at less than or close to €25,000 each.
Electric Vehicles EV Sales Ireland Charging Infrastructure Automotive Industry
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Over €1 million available for river projects to help salmon and sea trout thriveProjects in 16 Irish counties benefitted from the IFI fund in 2024
Read more »
Leona Maguire: ‘I worked harder this year than any other year, it just didn’t show in the results’Irish golfer speaks about her year of highs and lows in professional golf in 2024
Read more »
Irish Celebrity Weddings 2024A roundup of the most glamorous Irish celebrity weddings that took place in 2024.
Read more »
Irish Footballers Move Abroad in 2024This article highlights five Irish footballers who made the move to play professionally abroad in 2024.
Read more »
Irish Times Sportswoman of the Year Awards: ‘The greatest collection of women in Irish sport in one place ever assembled’Kellie Harrington named Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year for 2024
Read more »
Irish fashion in 2024: Simone Rocha’s Gaultier show started an exceptional yearIrish fashion had an outstanding year, at home and internationally. We take a look back on 2024's many highlights
Read more »