A total of 1,620 new electric cars were registered in February, which is more than double the number registered during the same month last year (805 ), according to new figures published by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI ).
SIMI added: "So far this year, 4,320 new electric cars have been registered in comparison to 1,782 for the Covid-19 hit similar sales period 2021.
"The figures show that EVs, plug-in hybrids and hybrids now make up a combined 44 per cent of the market share here in Ireland.
"Hybrid vehicles account for almost one quarter of the market share, electric over 11 per cent and plug-in electric hybrid eight per cent.
"Despite a large decrease in market share for internal combustion engine type vehicles, petrol remains dominant at just over 27 per cent, while diesel accounted for almost 26 per cent.
"Meanwhile, new car registrations for February were down 12.2 per cent (12,031 ) when compared to February last year. This is still 21.9 per cent behind that of pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
"Registrations for the year-to-date currently sit at 37,058, down 4.6 per cent on the same period in 2021.
"Used car imports for February (3,807 ) have seen a decrease of 33.9 per cent on February 2021 (5,758 ). Year-to-date imports are down 37.6 per cent on 2021.
"The top-selling car in Ireland last month was the Hyundai Tucson, followed by Toyota’s trio of the Corolla, Rav 4, and C-HR, with the Kia Sportage in fifth."
SIMI said the five top-selling car brands last month were Toyota on top, followed by Hyundai, Skoda, Kia and Volkswagen.
Commercials
SIMI added: "Elsewhere, vans/light commercial vehicles (LCV ) are down 30.9 per cent (2,292 ) compared to February last year (3,316 ) but only down 7 per cent on February 2019. For the year-to-date LCV sales are down 12 per cent (7,341 ).
"Heavy goods vehicles (HGV ) registrations are up by over seven per cent (242 ) in comparison to February 2021 (225 ). The year-to-date figures in this segment increased slightly by just over two per cent."
