Dublin – New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show a 25% decline in the number of electric cars licensed in Ireland in the first nine months of 2024. According to the report, 15,460 new electric cars were licensed during this period, a sharp drop from the 20,517 registered in the same timeframe last year.
However, the CSO noted a significant increase in the licensing of petrol-electric hybrid vehicles, with a 31% rise in the number of these vehicles on the road. A total of 22,604 hybrid cars were licensed in the first nine months of 2024, compared to 17,228 in the same period last year.
The data also revealed a 4% decline in the number of petrol-powered cars licensed, falling from 36,407 in 2023 to 34,779 this year. On the other hand, diesel car registrations saw a modest 5% increase, with 25,221 new diesel cars licensed, up from 24,058 last year.
Overall, the total number of new private cars licensed in the first nine months of 2024 rose slightly compared to the same period in 2023, from 109,482 to 109,621. There was also a significant 27% increase in the number of used (imported) cars licensed, rising to 47,554 from 37,591.
In September alone, the number of new private cars licensed for the first time fell by 11%, with 6,110 cars registered compared to 6,882 in September 2023. Toyota was the most popular make, followed by Skoda, Volkswagen, Kia, and Hyundai. Together, these five brands accounted for 53% of all new private cars licensed last month.
In the electric vehicle market, Tesla led the way, with the Model 3 being the most popular new electric car licensed in September, followed by the Volkswagen ID.4 and Tesla Model Y.
Phil Barnes, Geotab Business Development Manager for Ireland & the UK, commented on the latest figures, expressing concern about the country’s ability to meet its target of having 945,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on the road by 2030. “It’s mathematically impossible to reach that target unless the entire market shifts to electric overnight,” Barnes warned.
He noted that while there were positive changes in Budget 2025 regarding incentives for electric light commercial vehicles and company cars, there was little done to encourage the general public to adopt electric vehicles. “It seems like a missed opportunity,” Barnes added.
