Irish motorists are now more open to switching to electric and hybrid cars according to the most recent report.
The bi-annual report examines trends in the Irish motoring market and finds that 61 percent of motorists say their running costs have increased in the last 12 months with 29 percent stating they spend upwards of €250 per month on keeping their vehicle on the road.
Given this rise in running costs, it’s no surprise that almost half (45 percent ) of those questioned say cheaper running costs is the number one reason for considering changing to electric or hybrid from petrol or diesel. The environmental benefits was the second most popular reason to make the switch (40 percent ).
According to the report, almost 60 percent of those polled were not aware of Ireland’s Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme, which allows private buyers to receive a grant of up to €5,000 when purchasing a new electric vehicle.
However, despite the lack of awareness for the grant scheme, I still find it astonishing that this report found that almost two thirds claim they plan to purchase an electric or hybrid car in the near future. If a poll was conducted in rural Ireland, I’d happily wager that the answer to that questioned would look a lot different.
The Tesla Model S and the Lexus IS300h being the most searched electric and hybrid cars on Carzone site over the past six months. With 82 Tesla Model S cars sold new this year and just 34 last year in Ireland, it would seem irrelevant to the case being put. The Lexus IS does not enhance the case much with 110 sold new this year and 126 last year.
As Ireland works on improving its carbon footprint, electric charging points are appearing in more locations throughout the country. Exactly 60 percent know where their nearest charging point is and 40 percent say it’s located less than two kilometres away from their home.
