A survey carried out by EasyTrip shows that more than a quarter of potential new car buyers in Ireland are considering going electric in 2023.
A survey carried out by EasyTrip shows that more than a quarter of potential new car buyers in Ireland are considering going electric in 2023, there were good reasons why they are considering doing this but also doubts in their mind as to why they shouldn’t.
Last year, electric vehicle sales in Ireland increased by 81% compared to 2021. Some of the reasons why respondents were considering purchasing an electric vehicle were:
The survey also went on to ask those who were not considering go fully electric to state their reasons as to why. Their reasons were:
Interestingly two of the points listed as a blocker to purchasing an electric vehicle are contradicted by being listed as a reason why to purchase one.
New electric vehicles are expensive; however, this type of vehicle has now been around for long enough that the second-hand market is starting to take off with vehicles available for a much lower amount. The Irish Government are also heavily incentivising citizens to purchase a fully electric vehicle. A grant is available from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland of up to €5000 is available from to those purchasing privately. Added to this, electric vehicles pay the lowest rate of Motor Tax which is only €120 per year.
A regular car can contain hundreds of working parts which means there's lots that can go wrong and parts that need replacing over time. An electric car, in comparison, has a lot less to wear out, so maintenance costs can be as much as 50% less. Charging up an electric vehicle is also much cheaper than filling up a petrol or diesel vehicle, even though Europe is in the midst of an energy crisis caused by the War in Ukraine. A European Commission analysis of electricity prices in EU capitals and weekly petrol and diesel prices shows that driving 100 km with an average electric car in September 2022 cost about €6.50. Driving the same distance with a petrol car was on average 80 per cent more expensive and, with a diesel, 50 per cent more expensive. Q-Park also provides cost benefits for those wanting to park on a regular long-term basis. The Electric Vehicle Premier Card is discounted by 25% at facilities across the country.
Range anxiety should reduce further with advancements in technology. More and more new electric vehicles have an advertised range of over 300 kilometres, which is a considerable boost to a few years ago when the ranges were more around the 100 kilometres mark. However according to the Central Statistics Office, the average car journey in Ireland was only 12.7 kilometres. Therefore, even the lowest range cheapest electric vehicle can easily be lived with, what is required is a good network of public charging points for people to use on their travels, in the original survey this was listed as both a benefit and a blocker to electric vehicle uptake. This must be a perception and communication issue and operators and locations need to promote their infrastructure more.
Q-Park are in the process of installing and commissioning state-of-the-art charging points across their Estate as part of a huge Europe-wide rollout. The aim is to have a large bank of charging points in all facilities and in all cities. Whether you are on a seaside trip to Bray, sightseeing in Dublin or shopping in Galway, there will always be somewhere to plug in at Q-Park.
More information on where customers can find charging points across the Q-Park Estate can be found here.
About Q-Park
Q-Park is one of the three leading providers of parking facilities in West Europe, whether wholly owned, leased, managed or in a hybrid business model. Q-Park is notable for its quality approach and has a portfolio comprising over 640,000 parking spaces in over 3,300 parking facilities in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Ireland, and Denmark. Q-Park has numerous mobility hubs which provide access to a variety of mobility solutions. We house and support a range of activities from last mile logistics, fleet charging hubs, micromobility and car sharing services which help support urban accessibility, sustainability and liveability.
