'Decades' before EVs dominate Irish roads

RTÉ NewsState / PublicCenter4 hr. ago

Ireland has seen a significant increase in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), with battery-electric cars surpassing hybrids in popularity for new car buyers in July 2026. According to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, EVs accounted for 26% of new car registrations, making them the most popular choice. However, despite this growth, EVs still represent only 4% of the total existing car fleet in Ireland, significantly lower than in Scandinavian countries such as Norway, where nearly 98% of new cars sold are fully electric. Ireland is on par with the UK in terms of EV adoption but lags behind Nordic nations due to differences in incentives and taxation policies. Experts note that even with increased EV sales, it could take around 30 years for Ireland to reach the same level of EV penetration as Norway. Challenges include limited home charging access for some households and insufficient public charging infrastructure, with Ireland needing approximately 13,000 charging stations to match EU standards.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data on EV adoption rates across various European countries, including Ireland, without overtly favoring any particular political stance. It includes expert opinions and comparisons between different regions, highlighting both progress and challenges in EV adoption. The

TheJournal.ieIndependentCenter7 hr. ago

Ireland has become the first European country where electric vehicles (EVs) are the most popular choice for new car buyers, surpassing hybrids, petrol, and diesel models. According to data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi), BEVs accounted for 26% of new car registrations in 2026, placing Ireland ahead of countries like Italy, Spain, and the UK, though still significantly behind Nordic nations such as Norway (98%) and Denmark (80%). While there is growing interest in EVs, as evidenced by a 68.5% increase in online searches for electric vehicles on DoneDeal Cars, the majority of vehicles on Irish roads, 85.3%, are still powered by petrol or diesel. With only 4% of vehicles being electric, Ireland remains far from matching the dominance of EVs seen in the Nordic region.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data on EV adoption in Ireland without overtly praising or criticizing government policies. It highlights both progress and challenges without leaning toward a specific ideological stance. The framing is balanced, focusing on statistical comparisons rather than advocacy.