The Complete Guide to Electric Cars in Ireland 2025

By David Tait Reviewed by Cormac Breen

Editorial Manager

Electric cars in Ireland cost on average between €20,000 to €50,000 depending on the size and make of the car. There are several SEAI grants available to help with the purchase of electric cars worth up to €3,500. Electric cars produce zero carbon emissions and can be charged at home, or at public charging points.

What Are the Best Electric Cars in Ireland for 2025?

Choosing the right electric car for you will depend on several factors, including:

• Your driving needs: Do you need to make long commutes each day or short trips in your local area?
• Access to charging infrastructure: Are there public charging ports in your area, or do you need a home charger installed?
• Budget and financing: Given the lack of a second-hand market, buying a new electric car can be an expensive investment.

Below we have compiled some of the most popular electric cars available on the market:

Last updated: February 2025.

What Should I Consider Before Buying an Electric Car?

Keeping your budget in mind, there are several other important considerations to think about before purchasing an electric car.

Consider your lifestyle, with particular regards to your current usage of a car, and ask yourself the following questions:

• How often will you be using your vehicle? Just for the home-to-work commute and back, or will you need to drive to several different locations during the day?
• What is the average distance you drive in a day?
• How much time will you have to charge your EV?
• Are there multiple charging stations in my area?

What Grants Are Available in 2025 for Electric Vehicles?

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), offer grants to help with the following:

1. SEAI Purchase Grants: You can get up to €3,500 off a new battery electric vehicle (BEV). There are some price restrictions: the car needs to cost between €14,000 and €60,000 to be eligible.
2. Home Charger Grant: This grant helps with the cost of installing a home charger. You can get up to €300 towards the purchase and installation. 

Below you will find a full breakdown of the grant amount depending on the value of the electric car:

Last updated: February 2025.

Where Can I Buy an Electric Car in Ireland?

Apart from established car dealerships, you may be wondering where you can buy second-hand or used electric cars in Ireland.

You can always examine the following popular used car websites:

• Cars Ireland
• Car Zone
• Windsor
• Done deal

You will want to factor in that used or second-hand electric cars do not qualify for any government grants in Ireland.

How Much Does It Cost To Charge an Electric Car?

How much it costs to charge your electric car will depend on whether you choose to charge it. Currently, owners of electric cars in Ireland can charge them at either:

1. Home Charging Port
2. Public Charging Station

Home Charging Port

Charging your electric car at home represents the most convenient charging method and in terms of how much it would cost, the price of your electricity tariff will dictate this.

It is recommended to switch to either a night rate tariff or a time-of-use tariff to avail of cheaper night rates on electricity as the majority of electric car owners choose to charge their vehicles at night.

Some suppliers even offer special EV tariffs with extra low night rates for electric car owners:

Estimates are based on charging a 60 kWh battery.
Last updated: February 2025.

Public Charging Station

There are various public charging networks in Ireland, each with its own pricing structure. Some charge per kWh, while others might have a connection fee or a combination of both.

Public charging tends to be more expensive than home charging. You might expect to pay anywhere from €0.50 to €0.70 per kWh, depending on the network and the speed of the charger.

Fast chargers, which can significantly reduce charging time, usually cost more.

ESB eCars, one of the largest networks, has different rates for standard, fast, and high-power charging. You can check their website or app for the latest prices.

Are Electric Cars Cheaper Than Petrol Cars?

While it is possible to save money by purchasing and driving an electric car, the overall cost savings will depend on the following factors:

• Upfront costs
• Running costs
• Resale value

Electric cars generally have a higher initial purchase price compared to similar petrol cars. However, this gap is closing, and government grants and incentives can help offset the difference.

Electricity is significantly cheaper than petrol, especially when you take advantage of nighttime EV tariffs. You can expect to save a substantial amount on "fuel" costs by switching to electric.

Electric cars have the lowest motor tax rate in Ireland (€120 per year), while petrol cars can have significantly higher tax depending on their emissions.

Insurance costs for electric cars can sometimes be slightly higher than for petrol cars due to the higher value of EVs. However, this can vary depending on the model and your insurance provider.

Electric cars also retain their sell on value as the second-hand market is still growing in Ireland.

Some suppliers even offer special EV tariffs with extra low night rates for electric car owners:

What Is an Electric Vehicle?

An electric car, also known as an electric vehicle (EV), is a car that runs on electricity instead of petrol.

Here's a breakdown of the key things to know about them:

• Electric Motor: Instead of a traditional engine that burns fuel, electric cars have an electric motor that uses electricity to turn the wheels.
• Battery: They have a large battery pack that stores the electricity needed to power the motor.
• Charging: You need to plug an electric car into an external power source (like a home charger or a public charging station) to recharge the battery.

There are also different types of electric cars:

• EV: Electric Vehicle. It runs 100% electricity-only and needs a charging point.
• PHEV: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. A hybrid runs on a mix of petrol and electricity. It also needs a charging station.
• HEV: Self-charging Hybrid Electric Vehicle. This is a hybrid vehicle that runs on petrol and electricity. The difference is that it does not require a charging station like the PHEV. It only stores and uses the energy generated from the engine itself.
• MHEV: Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle. This is similar to an HEV where no charging point is required. The caveat here is that energy produced from the engine is so minimal (‘mild’), it isn’t strong enough to ever run the car strictly on electricity. The recovered energy only assists in propelling the vehicle.

Ireland's Climate Action Plan aims to have at least 30% of the private car fleet to be electric by 2030 in line with Ireland's aims of reducing carbon emissions.

The electrification of transport in Ireland is one means by which the government aims to achieve its objective of carbon neutrality by 2050 as outlined in the Paris Climate Accords.