Number of new licenced electric cars increases 50% so far this year

Kenneth Fox

The number of new electric cars licenced has increased by more than half (52 per cent) from 13,506 in January to September 2022 to 20,517 in the same period in 2023.

The number of new cars licenced in September 2023 decreased by 433 vehicles (-9 per cent) compared with September 2022.

Volkswagen (853) was the most popular make of new private cars licenced in September 2023.

In the first nine months of 2023, 19 per cent of all new cars licenced for the first time were electric compared with 14 per cent in the same period in 2022.

Slightly over one-fifth (22 per cent) of new private cars licenced in January to September 2023 were diesel compared with over a quarter (27 per cent) in the same period in 2022.

The number of used cars licenced in the first nine months of 2023 increased by 4 per cent compared with the same period in 2022 (37,591 versus 36,140).

There were 11,916 used (imported) diesel private cars licenced in the first nine months of 2023, compared with 12,763 in the first nine months of 2022, a fall of 7 per cent.

Commenting on the data, Dr Nele van der Wielen, statistician in the transport section of the CSO, said: “Today’s figures from the CSO show the continued growth in the number of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles licenced in Ireland.

"In the period January to September 2023, 36,407 new cars licenced were petrol cars compared with 27,915 in the same period in 2022, an increase of 30 per cent. At the same time, new diesel cars licenced have decreased by 4 per cent in the same period."

There were 11,916 used (imported) diesel private cars licenced in the first nine months of 2023, compared with 12,763 in the same period in 2022, a fall of 7 per cent.

The total number of used vehicles licenced in the period January to September 2023 was up 4 per cent compared with the same period in 2022

Data also shows that Volkswagen (853) was the most popular make of new private car licensed in September 2023, followed by Skoda (722), Toyota (624), Kia (610) and Hyundai (592).

Together, these five makes represent just under a half (49 per cent) of all new private cars licensed in September 2023.