More than two in five (41 per cent ) Irish motorists plan to buy either a hybrid electric or fully-electric vehicle for their next car purchase, a new survey has revealed.
According to a survey commissioned by Toyota Ireland, 29 per cent are opting for hybrid electric and 12 per cent for fully electric.
Research conducted by 3Gem in October found that, of the 750 motorists surveyed, 22 per cent plan to buy a petrol car for their next vehicle, 15 per cent will go diesel, and 19 per cent are unsure of their next move.
The research coincided with Toyota’s new brand campaign, ‘Make the Move’ which encourages drivers to switch from diesel to hybrid electric. Cartell figures show that 1.4 million diesel cars are driven in Ireland today, which is said to have surprised 71 per cent of those surveyed.
The research found that when it comes to buying a car, the top three considerations for Irish drivers are price (60 per cent ), followed by fuel efficiency (48 per cent ) and size of the car (32 per cent ).
Meanwhile, just 14 per cent chose environmental impact as their top consideration, falling behind driving comfort (15 per cent ) engine size (16 per cent ) and appearance (22 per cent ).
For the majority of those planning to buy a hybrid electric vehicle, 58 per cent are motivated by the claimed lower cost of running than a diesel or petrol car, 57 per cent said it’s better for the environment, and 43 per cent expected save money on fuel and motor tax in the long run.
For those on the fence about going fully electric, the top concerns are price (60 per cent ), followed by the availability of charging points (47 per cent ), and range when driving long distances (44 per cent ) whilst 37 per cent are deterred by perceived lengthy charge times.
