51 per cent of Irish motorists are considering switching to an electric vehicle due to the recent spike in fuel prices, according to data from Carzone.ie, despite never having considered making the change before.
The research showed that 57 per cent of respondents are planning on changing their car in the next twelve months and that 49 per cent of those people were planning to purchase an electric or hybrid vehicle.
Cheaper running costs
Out of those planning to buy an electric vehicle, 87 per cent cited cheaper running costs as the main reason for the switch. 57 per cent of potential buyers also mentioned the environmental benefits, with 22 per cent listing tax incentives such as the €1,500 SEAI grant, VRT relief and €120 per year motor tax as a key factor.
Deterrents
Looking at buyers who are not yet planning on going electric, expense was the biggest deterring factor at 28 per cent, while the second biggest reason (24 per cent) was the lack of public charging facilities in their area. Electric cars are not expected to reach price parity with petrol and diesel models until the latter half of the decade.
Of all the motorists surveyed, 43 per cent were hesitant about buying a used hybrid or electric vehicle, the biggest cause for concern at 70 per cent being battery life. A lack of or shorter warranty was another factor at 39 per cent.
Rising buyer interest
So far in 2022, 47 per cent of new car registrations have been made up of hybrid and electric cars. According to Carzone's data, electric cars now make up 23 per cent of ad views on the site as opposed to just 9 per cent in 2021. Four out of the five most viewed cars on Carzone are currently electric models, with the Volkswagen ID.4 in top spot, followed by the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Audi e-tron, Kia EV6 and the hybrid Hyundai Tucson, Ireland's best-selling car at present.
Despite the 67 per cent of drivers who predict that they will be driving an electric car by 2030, there still appears to be a gap in the public's knowledge about EVs, with almost three quarters admitting that they don't know enough about them.
Greener future
Commenting on the research, Karl Connolly, Audience Manager at Carzone, said:
"As fuel costs continue to spiral, electric cars are looking a whole lot more appealing thanks to lower running costs and ready availability of electricity from charging points. Carzone has seen a spike in interest for electric vehicles as fuel costs rise and there is now a huge amount of choice for consumers today when it comes to EVs, and this is increasing at a rapid pace. 81 brand new EV model choices were advertised on Carzone in 2021 alone, more than double the choice from 2020."
"Whilst the interest is rising," he said, "the higher price point for EVs is still a barrier for many along with the lack of charging infrastructure in certain areas. However, the future looks a lot greener for the motoring industry as electric car technology and infrastructure can only improve in the coming years leading up to the government's 2030 climate action plan goals."