Hybrids sales increase amid 25% drop in electric vehicle sales
1,194 Than Year Lower Last And 1,974 Electric Just Were Vehicles The Shows In Month September Last Same Registered Registered 2022 1,621 Month, Data Pure Cso In The
The decline in new electric car sales continues new data from the CSO shows.
The figures from the CSO show a 25% decrease in the number of electric cars licensed for the first time in the first nine months of the year from 20,517 last year to 15,460 in 2024.
This compares with a slight rise in the overall number of new private car sales over the same period, from 109,482 in 2023 to 109,621 this year. 2024 has seen a significant fall in electric vehicle sales, a trend that has been repeated across Europe.
The number of new petrol and electric hybrid cars increased by 31% from 17,228 in the first nine months of 2023 to 22,604 in the same period of 2024.
The CSO data shows just 1,194 pure electric vehicles were registered last month, lower than 1,621 registered in the same month last year and 1,974 in September 2022.
The CSO said the number of imported used cars this year increased by 27% to 47,554.
New electric hybrid cars licensed in the first nine months of 2024 grew by 24% compared with the same period last yearhttps://t.co/0iN3fH30g5#CSOIreland #Ireland #IrishTransport #TransportIreland #Transport #VehicleLicensing #NewVehicle #RoadFreight #Logistics #Business pic.twitter.com/xLpXqkyXzw
— Central Statistics Office Ireland (@CSOIreland) October 9, 2024
Commenting on the results, Phil Barnes, Business Development Manager with Geotab, said the recent Budget did not offer enough incentives for motorists to switch to EVs.
"While there were some positives in Budget 2025 with changes in VRT categorisation for electric light commercial vehicles, as well as BIK benefits in terms of company cars and the installation of home chargers, there was no real incentive to sway the general public," he said.
"Given that the passenger car market is the primary driver for EV sales, it seems like a missed opportunity.”
“We are at the point where mathematically it is impossible to reach Ireland’s target of having 945,000 EVs on the road by 2030," he said. "Essentially the entire market would have to switch to electric overnight for any chance of achieving the goal."