Irish Motorists Embrace Green Future as Fuel Excise Duty Increases

The Carzone motoring report examines trends in the Irish motoring industry

Key Findings:

• 35% of Irish motorists plan to purchase an electric or hybrid model as their next car
• 57% of the respondents chose an electric/hybrid car over other fuel types as it is better for the environment.
• 57% chose to purchase hybrid or electric cars because they’re cheaper to run.
• 50% said the initial cost of an EV was preventing them from making the switch to an EV.
• 1 in 2 (52%) motorists also said that the potential cost of having to install a home charger affected their decision to switch to an EV.
• 37% of motorists cite the lack of charging points in their area affected their decision not to switch to an EV.
• 69% cite fuel cost as their number one financial concern when purchasing a car
• 50% do not believe the Government’s target of having 945,000 electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030 is realistic.

Irish motorists are looking towards a greener future, with 35% revealing they intend to purchase an electric or hybrid model as their next car, according to the latest Motoring Report from car buying experts Carzone. The annual Carzone Motoring Report is compiled by analysing data from the 22 million+ searches carried out on Carzone from January to May of this year, as well as in-depth research carried out by 3Gem with 1000 Irish motorists.

Whilst fuel costs have decreased since the peak prices of last summer, they still remain a concern for many motorists, with 69% citing fuel cost as their number one financial concern when purchasing a car. Among those considering the switch to electric or hybrid, 57% cited environmental concerns as the primary reason for choosing an electric or hybrid car over other fuel types. Meanwhile, over half (57%) of respondents favoured electric or hybrid vehicles due to their lower running costs.

While the appeal of lower running costs and reduced environmental impact and is evident, the research also highlights some barriers to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Of those who said they wouldn’t consider making the switch to EV, half (50%) expressed concerns over the initial purchase cost of electric vehicles, while 37% referenced the lack of charging points in their area. Over half (52%) of motorists also expressed concern about the potential cost of installing a home charger as an influencing factor in their decision not to switch to an electric vehicle.

Best-selling electric vehicles

Recent sales data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) demonstrates the increased popularity of electric vehicles with new car buyers in Ireland during the first four months of 2023. The best-selling new all-electric car year-to-date is the Volkswagen ID.4, followed by the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Tesla Model Y. The most popular new electric car brands in 2023 so far this year are Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, Tesla and BMW. New Electric vehicle sales so far in 2023 have increased 48.6% in the first four months of 2023, with 11,164 total electric vehicles registered.

Most-searched electric and hybrid vehicles

The 2023 Carzone EV search data shows that the Audi E-Tron claims the top spot as Carzone’s most-searched electric model in 2023 thus far. The premium Tesla Model 3 remains high on electric car buyer wish lists in second place, while Volkswagen’s ID.4 is third. In terms of plug-in hybrid models, the BMW 3 Series has jumped to the most-searched plug-in hybrid model on Carzone, followed by the BMW 5 Series and the Land Rover – Range Rover Sport

Commenting on the research, Karl Connolly, Audience Manager Carzone said:

“We are delighted to see the growing interest among Irish motorists in electric and hybrid vehicles. The survey results clearly indicate a strong shift towards more sustainable transportation options. Running costs are a key concern for Irish motorists so with excise duties set to increase this week, motorists are more likely than ever to consider making the switch to an electric or hybrid model. Carzone is committed to supporting this transition by providing a wide range of electric and hybrid models.

For anyone considering making the switch to electric, Carzone has a wide variety of new and used electric and hybrid cars to choose from.”

MOST SEARCHED CARS in 2023 (Jan – May) 

To access a full copy of the report, visit: www.carzone.ie/motoringreport