DoneDeal, Ireland’s largest car website, in association with the SEAI, has released its latest consumer market insights and found that 70% of Irish consumers are considering an electric vehicle as their next car purchase. (Source: Survey of 1,000 car buyers in November & December 2022).

Ireland's most viewed new car in 2022 was an Electric Vehicle:

Onsite demand for new & used electric vehicles (EVs) grew by 33% in 2022 (DoneDeal proprietary Ad View Data), while demand for diesel fell 39% during the same period. For the first time, 2022 was the first year when an electric vehicle, the Volkswagen ID.4, was the most in-demand new car on DoneDeal.

What do Irish motorists view as the most important consideration when buying a used EV?

With the supply constraints on new electric vehicles, used EVs will have to account for a large percentage of EV targets over the next decade. The DoneDeal survey found that the most important consideration for buyers when it comes to purchasing a second-hand EV is the upfront purchase cost (number 1 concern for 32% of respondents), followed closely by the range of the vehicle (number 1 concern for 25% of respondents). Speaking about the findings, Fergus Sharkey, Head of Business Supports and Transport, SEAI says:

“Buying a used EV is a great way to gain all the benefits of driving electric, at a reduced cost. Now with more options available and reasons to drive electric, the used EV market is growing. If you’re thinking about buying electric, the SEAI have advice and information available on our website along with Compare and Calculate online tools to help check potential cost savings. With the number of EVs in Ireland doubling year on year, there has never been a better time to save money and to help change Ireland’s energy use for the better”. Range anxiety remains a persistent hurdle for Irish motorists:

Top of the list of concerns buyers have around buying a used EV is how many year’s battery life is left (a concern for 83% of respondents). Concerns over the range that a used EV battery can achieve was a consideration for 78% of respondents. The psychological phenomenon of “range anxiety” remains a persistent hurdle for Irish consumers, and improving our charging infrastructure will be paramount in the further adoption of EVs in this country. There are currently only 1,350 EV charging points on the island of Ireland, operated and maintained by the ESB. In contrast, Norway currently has a staggering 17,000 charging stations across the country to accommodate their population of just over 5.5 million. The Government's plan to roll-out a pool of high-powered chargers every 60 km on our motorway network will certainly help remove some of the anxiety around range.

What does the future hold for EVs in Ireland?

Positive signals remain for the EV market in 2023 with 70% of Irish car buyers considering an EV as their next purchase. However, DoneDeal’s consumer findings also show that the adoption of EVs in Ireland doesn’t come without concerns for motorists. With updates to the Climate Action Plan aiming to ensure that nearly one in three private cars will be an electric vehicle by 2030, allaying these concerns and building a strong second hard EV market will be key to achieving this target.