According to new figures from the Central Statistics Office, 14pc of all new cars licensed for the first time were electric compared with 19pc in the same period last year. This indicates a significant decline in the market share of electric vehicles, which saw a reduction in absolute numbers from 20,517 to 15,460. Such a trend may pose challenges to meeting government targets for electric vehicle adoption, reflecting an urgent need for revised strategies to promote EV sales.
Phil Barnes, business development manager of Geotab, emphasized the improbability of achieving the Irish Government's target of having 945,000 EVs on the roads by 2030. He noted that 'essentially the entire market would have to switch to electric overnight for any chance of achieving the goal.' This stark assessment highlights the need for more aggressive measures to stimulate EV adoption among consumers.
Barnes observed a contrasting trend in EV sales between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, where battery EV sales surged by almost 35pc year-on-year. He mentioned, 'while some positives exist in Budget 2025 with changes like VRT categorization, the lack of significant incentives for the public reflects a missed opportunity to drive passenger car EV sales further.' His critique points to the urgency of reevaluating current EV policies.
Despite electric vehicle sales struggles, the total number of new private cars licensed has shown slight growth this year, with 109,621 compared to 109,482 last year. The CSO data revealed that petrol and diesel vehicles still dominate, making up 55pc of licenses, sustaining the status quo in car preferences. This underscores a pivotal moment for the automotive market amid shifting consumer sentiments towards electrification.
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