AA Ireland has highlighted the need for more government incentives to encourage people to purchase electric cars, after a recent survey by the organisation that diesel-powered cars remain the most popular option for those looking at purchasing a new vehicle in 2020.

In response to an AA Car Insurance survey of over 8,000 Irish motorists, those who indicated they were likely to purchase a new car in 2020 were asked to indicate which vehicle types they would include in their search for a new car. 38.42% of respondents indicated that they would include diesel powered cars in their search, with 23.22% planning to look at petrol powered vehicles. However, just 7.41% of those surveyed stated they would include fully electric vehicles in their car search, with 27.61% planning to look at petrol/electric hybrid cars.

Conor Faughnan, AA Director of Consumer Affairs commented, “While some assistance is available to those looking to purchase an EV, the last two budgets have failed to deliver anything substantive which would make a would-be purchaser more likely to opt for an electric vehicle than a petrol or diesel-powered car. The openness to hybrid vehicles does show that consumers are aware and concerned about the impact of their transport on CO2 emissions, but we then see a noticeable drop off in those who say they are willing to consider a fully electric car.” Ha added, “Effective range between charges and cost have always been highlighted by motorists as their main concern when electric vehicles are concerned, and not enough is being done by government to help offset the upfront expense of an electric vehicle.”

According to the AA’s survey, almost a third of Irish motorists are planning to purchase a vehicle, either new or second hand in 2020. Of those surveyed by the AA, 13.86% indicated they were very likely to purchase a car at some point in 2020, with a further 19.25% indicated they were somewhat likely to do so.