EVs now exceed 10% of Ireland's car sales

From The Irish Times:

Electric and hybrid vehicles now account for more than 10 per cent of car sales in the Republic.

Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show 107,686 new private cars were taxed for the first time, a decrease of 7.1 per cent compared with the same period last year.

The decline was down to falling sales of new cars as buyers here opted to import used models from the UK, taking advantage of the current weakness in sterling.

The figures show electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles accounted for 10.5 per cent (19,718) of all private cars for which motor tax was paid for the first time in the Republic during up to the end of September.

This compared with 6.7 per cent for the same period last year and reflects the gradual shift to greener motoring. Sales of new EVs rose by 157 per cent to 2,904 for the period.

Despite the leap in sales, the overall take-up of EVs in Ireland remains modest by international standards. Experts link this to cost – basic electric car models start at over €30,000 – and range anxiety.

Nonetheless the uptick in EV sales contrasts with the slump in the traditional car market.

[There is a €10,000 subsidy for EVs in Eire and a €7,500 subsidy for PHEVs]