Half of Irish drivers willing to make the move to electric or hybrid car, survey shows

Despite this, there remains a broad willingness to adapt to alternative transport methods, with 72% of those who say they prefer to use their car also expressing an openness toward using more environmentally friendly commuting options should they be available.

Some 54% of respondents are planning to purchase an electric or hybrid model as their next car. A year ago, just 35% said the same.

Diesel cars remain the most popular in Ireland, with 47% of drivers opting for these. That is a reduction from the 54% reported in 2023, though.

A further 37% of those surveyed are driving petrol vehicles, with the remaining 16% now using a hybrid or electric vehicle, up from the 10% returned the previous year.

Half of those asked expressed ongoing reservations in terms of the inadequate standard of Ireland’s e-vehicle charging infrastructure.

Concerns

Other significant concerns expressed include the expense and heightened depreciation seen in new electric cars, with people also stating the new range of vehicles are unreliable and have limited range.

Nevertheless, the report described the increase in the use of e-vehicles as reflecting a “palpable transition in the market”.

Almost two-thirds of those asked said they would buy or had bought an e-vehicle due to its pro-environment qualities.

The 2024 report notes the younger of its 1,000 respondents, aged between 17 and 24, as being the most likely to embrace change, with 76% of that cohort open to switching their mode of transport.

The opposite is noted for people older than 65, with only 53% of those surveyed in that age bracket open to the prospect of making a transition.

The report further underlines the regional variances often noted in terms of Ireland’s adaptability to green alternatives, with people in Leinster the most likely to express willingness to change their habits, with 73% claiming to be willing to adapt to greener transport alternatives.

Munster and Connacht people were similarly of that mindset, with 72% and 71% of those surveyed responding in that manner. However, Ulster demonstrated a significantly lower proportion of respondents who said they would be willing to embrace change, with just 64% saying they were minded to do so.

“While our research underscores Ireland's heavy reliance on cars, it also reflects a growing openness to explore alternative transport options,” a spokesperson for Carzone said.

“As evidenced by our motoring report, the trend of downsizing vehicles to reduce costs hints at an ongoing evolution in people's transportation preferences,” they added.

In terms of car-purchasing behaviour, the survey noted a majority, 37%, of buyers doing so because they wanted a newer vehicle, with 28% requiring a more reliable motor. Some 14% said they had changed because of their growing family and the consequent need for more space.

Used car market

Ireland’s used car market has been buffeted in recent years by a combination of Brexit and a parts and vehicle supply shortage resulting from covid.

Those trends are reflected in current average purchasing levels, according to the survey, the results of which show on average Irish people change their car just under every five years, with the average spend on a new vehicle now €18,000, compared with the €16,370 seen 12 months previously. 

Meanwhile, 95% of buyers are now more inclined to run a full history check — which may note previous write-offs together with the number of registered owners — on a vehicle before purchasing.

The amount spent on running a vehicle has increased for 29% of owners over the past years, the results said.