Electric vehicles are becoming a “much more mainstream choice” for Irish motorists, EY Ireland has said, following the publication of Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) data that indicates that EV sales nearly doubled in July 2026, compared to the same period last year.
“While recent fuel-price volatility may have prompted some consumers to take a closer look at EVs, this is about much more than oil prices alone,” Shanna Collins, government and infrastructure director at EY Ireland, said.
According to the SIMI data, a total of 9,682 new electric cars were registered in Ireland during the month – the highest on record – an increase of 98% on 4,898 in July 2025. Year-to-date registrations reached 29,840, a 61% increase on the same period last year, with electric vehicles now accounting for 26.1% of Ireland’s new car market.
By contrast, hybrid (petrol electric) cars accounted for 24.59% of Ireland’s new car market, followed by petrol (20.39%), plug-in hybrid (14.45%), and diesel (12.45%) vehicles.
Continuing trend
“What we’re seeing is the continuation of a trend that has been building for a number of years,” said Collins. “For many consumers, EVs are now a more practical and financially viable option than they were a few years ago. Government supports, including SEAI grants for qualifying new battery electric vehicles and the recent pilot scrappage scheme for eligible older petrol and diesel cars, have helped address the upfront cost for some buyers, while consumers are increasingly looking beyond the purchase price and focusing on the overall cost of owning and running a vehicle.
“Greater familiarity with EVs, a wider range of models on the market and continued improvements in charging infrastructure are all helping to drive adoption. Lower and more predictable running costs are also becoming an increasingly important consideration for households when making purchasing decisions.”
Notably, an increase in EV registrations was consistent across every county of Ireland, including among rural motorists, who have “traditionally been viewed as more hesitant adopters”, Collins added. This suggests that EV adoption is broadening beyond traditional urban markets.
“Looking ahead, maintaining momentum will depend on three key areas: affordability, policy certainty and continued investment in charging infrastructure,” she said. “Consumers need confidence that the charging network will continue to expand and that the policy environment will remain supportive. If those conditions are in place, the outlook for continued growth in EV adoption in Ireland remains very positive.”
New car registrations
Overall, SIMI noted that new car registrations for July were up 8.63% on the same period a year ago, to 29,046 units. In the year to date, registrations are up 5.2% on the same period last year, to 114,228 units.
“The record increase in EV sales is proof that incentives work, not just in urban areas, but also for rural motorists who received the majority of scrappage grants,” commented Brian Cooke, director general, SIMI.
“The current incentives are fundamental to market growth, and SIMI are calling for their retention and extension in Budget 2027. EV adoption remains a critical part of our climate change goals, and any Government incentives today will result in both cost-savings and reductions in emissions in the future.” Read more here.
