Your Guide to Electric Vehicles
Discover the different types of electric cars that are available, compare the pros and cons, and explore the financial benefits.
Your Guide to Electric Vehicles
Discover the different types of electric cars that are available, compare the pros and cons, and explore the financial benefits.
What is an electric vehicle (EV)?
There are two main types of electric vehicles (EVs): zero-emission and hybrid. Zero-emission vehicles are powered purely by one or more electric motors, and by far the most common type is a battery electric vehicle (BEV). Meanwhile, hybrid cars work by pairing a battery-powered electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine. Zero-emission vehicles and most hybrid vehicles drive like automatic cars, without a manual gearbox. The number of electric cars in Ireland is rising steadily with more than 42,000 EVs and hybrids being purchased during 2022.
Cars powered entirely by electric batteries don't produce any exhaust emissions, while hybrid cars produce significantly less than petrol and diesel vehicles. As a result, both the Government and car manufacturers are keen to promote the take-up of EVs in the drive to meet environmental targets and tackle climate change. Climate change is obviously a grave threat to life on our planet and, by reducing your carbon emissions to zero, you’ll be playing a very positive role in creating a better future for yourself, your family and future generations. The technology behind electric cars is evolving rapidly, extending their mileage. Charging facilities are improving too – in 2021, the Irish Times estimated that there were 2,000 charging points across the country, and recent strategy documents suggest that this number could rise to between 2,540 and 4,850 within the next three years.
Zero-emission or hybrid: the pros and cons
Zero-emission cars are clearly the best option in terms of tackling climate change and, with fewer moving parts, they are less prone to wear and tear. Also, because they are lighter, they are more efficient than hybrids. However, hybrid cars are also a significant improvement on conventional cars. And, with some forms of hybrid (see below), you can choose whether to use your electric battery or your internal combustion engine, maximising its use as an electric-powered unit. At the same time, if you need to travel long distances, you have the back-up of a conventional engine.
There are two types of zero-emission cars. The most common are battery electric vehicles (BEVs). As the name suggests, they have a large battery (or batteries) that are charged by plugging them into an external source. There are also fuel-cell electric cars (FCEVs), which produce electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen drawn from the air, but they are relatively rare in Ireland.
There are four types of hybrid car:
- Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) can be used for some electric-only driving but they can’t be charged externally. Instead, the electricity is generated by braking, cruising and the petrol/diesel engine.
- Mild HEVs use an electric motor to support the combustion engine but cannot run on electricity alone.
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have larger batteries which, as the name suggests, can be charged externally. These cars are better suited to electric-only driving, with the battery lasting for longer periods, and you may only need the combustion engine for longer distances.
- Meanwhile range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) do what they say on the tin. A small combustion engine runs a generator that produces electricity, so you can drive further without having to charge the battery. The cars wheels are driven directly by electric motors and the battery can also be externally charged.
How far can you drive with an EV?
The distance you can drive in a fully-charged EV varies widely and is steadily improving with evolving battery technology. Depending on the type and model of EV as well as the type of driving you are doing, you can usually expect between 200-400 kilometres for a zero-emission car.
Hybrid cars run on electric only for much shorter distances – typically 50-80 kilometres. But of course, because hybrids also have a petrol/diesel engine they can achieve normal car distances when fully charged and fuelled.
Charging your EV
If you have your own off-street parking, the easiest way to charge your car will be at home. And unless your employer provides free EV charging, it’s also likely to be your cheapest option – even more so if you have a day/night meter and charge the car overnight. It is possible to charge most EVs with a standard 13-amp socket but also very slow, and so it’s better to buy a proper EV charging point. This likely to cost upwards of €1,000 but you can claim a €600 grant from the SEAI (see below). If domestic charging is not an option, you will no doubt have seen a proliferation in car charging points around Ireland, and the introduction of rapid chargers is seeing the time it takes to charge batteries fall from as much as five hours to 30 minutes (depending on compatibility and the size of the battery).
There are of course many variations here, according to the size of the battery and the model of the car, and prices are rising due to the energy crisis. Nonetheless, the cost of charging your electric vehicle battery is very small compared to filling a tank with petrol. For instance, figures earlier in 2023 from Money Guide Ireland quoted the typical cost of public EV charging (based on a VW ID 4 52kwh on a fast charger) at €9.40 for a 100km drive. This can fall to as low as €3.81 if you can charge at home on a night rate. Also, the lithium batteries that are now used in BEVs have a very low level of discharge, meaning your car shouldn’t lose its charge, even when left undriven for several days, or even weeks.
BEV grants and other benefits
Electric vehicles are generally more expensive than their petrol/diesel counterparts. However, if you’re buying a battery electric car, that differential can be offset by a grant of €1,500-€3,500 from the SEAI. Grants are not available for buying hybrids. The size of the grant depends on the list price of the EV, and it must be a model approved by the SEAI – see more information here. You can also claim up to €300 towards the purchase and installation of a home charging unit.
BEVs qualify for the lowest band of motor tax (currently €120 per annum), VRT tax relief of up to €5,000, and benefit-in-kind tax incentives. See the Department of Transport for more information.