Sustainable Mobility and Transport 2021

Respondents were asked the factors that would influence them when considering purchasing a car. By far, the most common influencing factor was purchase price (59.7%), followed by the reliability of the car at 40.2%. Nearly three in ten (27.2%) males considered the fuel efficiency or miles per gallon of the car when considering buying a car, compared with just over one in five (21.8%) females. After car price and reliability, the next most important influencing factor for females was the size of car (24.2% of females noting this), such as the number of people it can carry, boot space, etc., compared with less than one in five (19%) males. Of female respondents, almost four in ten (38.9%) aged 35 to 44 years considered the size of the car as an important factor when buying a car. Although the importance of car size was less for males aged between 35 and 44 years,  in this age group, nearly three in ten (28.6%) males considered it important when buying a car, followed by over one quarter (25.7%) of males in the 45 to 54 years age group. Of older persons surveyed, just one in six (16.5%) males considered car size important, compared with one in eight (12.9%) females aged 75 years and older. See Table 2.1 and Figure 2.1.

Note that respondents could select more than one option.

The cost of motor tax and insurance were considered important by one quarter (24.6%) of young females aged 25 to 34 years. Young males in this age group were less influenced by cost of tax and insurance when buying a car. Less than one in seven (13.6%) males in this age group considered the cost of taxing the car, while one in six (16.8%) considered the cost of their insurance should they purchase a car. See Table 2.1.

The level of fuel emissions would be a consideration in purchasing a car for one in seven (14.6%) respondents aged 18 years and over (less than one in seven (15.1%) males and 14.1% of females). At an overall level, how the car looks is more important for females than males – 14.3% of females compared with 11.7% of males, although one in six of both male and female respondents aged 35 to 44 years considered the appearance of the car important. The resale value of the car was more a consideration for males (9.9%) than for females (8.6%) while the engine power was a factor for one in thirteen males (7.5%), nearly double that for females (3.4%). See Table 2.1.

Electric vehicle (EV) ownership has doubled since the survey was last carried out in the fourth quarter of 2019 – 3.2% of respondents stated that they own an electric vehicle, compared with 1.5% of respondents in 2019. See Table 2.3.

EVs are vehicles that are either partially or fully powered on electric power. All-electric or fully electric vehicles, also called battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) charge their batteries using electric power at charging points for example on the public charging system, at home, at your workplace, etc. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) on the other hand are fueled with fossil fuels, such as petrol, but use small batteries that are charged while the car is in motion. PHEVs can use can also use fossil fuels and operate similar to a HEV if necessary.

EV ownership in Dublin is twice that than in the rest of the country – 4.9% of persons residing in Dublin own an EV compared to 2.5% of individuals residing outside of Dublin. EV ownership was also much higher in densely populated areas, where one in twenty (4.8%) persons living in these areas owned an EV, compared to just 1.9% of persons residing in thinly populated areas while 3.3% of persons living in intermediate populated areas owned an EV. See Table 2.3.

By far the most common type of EV in Ireland in 2021 was the conventional hybrid (45.3%), where the hybrid battery continually recharges while the EV is in motion. One third of EV owners had a fully electric EV, which does not use any petrol or diesel and has to be plugged in to charge, while over one in five (21.7%) had a plug-in hybrid, which can be plugged in but also uses petrol or diesel. See Table 2.4 and Figure 2.2.

Note that the responses provided by respondents are their understanding of their EV type. 

Respondents who owned an EV were asked what factors influenced their decision to purchase one, and respondents could indicate more than one factor in their reply. By far the most common influencing factor were environmental concerns (61.2%) and reduced running costs (61.1%). Environmental concerns influenced the purchasing decision of 67.4% of females, compared with 56.3% of males. Conversely, for 67.3% of males, reduced running costs were important, compared to 53.2% of females. See Table 2.5, Figures 2.3 and 2.4.

Other affordability factors included reduced motor tax and availability of purchase grants, for example, Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) or fully electric cars and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) qualify for lower tax bands of motor tax, and purchase grants are also available for new BEVs. Also through the Electric SPSV (eSPSV) Grant Scheme 2022,  grants are available to enable owners of small public service vehicles, such as taxis, hackneys and limousines, to buy an electric vehicle/electric vehicles.

Reduced motor tax and the availability of purchase grants was a consideration for 35.6% and 19.1% of EV owners respectively. Reducing noise pollution was more of a consideration for males than females – 21.3% of males compared with 13.1% of females. See Table 2.5, Figures 2.3 and 2.4.

Charging EVs can be done through the National Charging Infrastructure which operates throughout the island of Ireland (both fast and slow charging), through a home charger which can be installed at your home, or by workplace charging. Grants are available for the installation of a home charger unit for new and second-hand BEVs or PHEVs. Access to charging points, whether it be at home or on the public infrastructure was an influencing factor for EV owners. Over one in ten (10.4%) EV owners said that access to charging at home was a consideration, although males were twice as likely to consider this as a factor that influenced their decision to purchase an EV – 13.2% of males compared with 6.8% of females. Males were also twice as likely to consider access to charging points on the public infrastructure as an issue (where persons may need to charge their EV on a journey or do not have access to a charge point at home or at work) – 5.2% of males compared with 2.3% of females (3.9% of EV respondents overall). See Table 2.5, Figures 2.3 and 2.4.

By far the most common reason cited by respondents for not owning an EV was the cost of EVs. Nearly two thirds (63.3%) of respondents who do not own an EV cited this as a reason. It was a reason equally voiced by both males (63.7%) and females (62.9%). Over one in five (21.1%) said that no or limited access to home charging was an issue. Public charging infrastructure that is easily accessible and affordable was an issue for nearly three in ten (29.3%) persons who do not own an EV, while the limited range of EVs available was an issue for nearly one in five (19.3%). One in twenty (5.4%) said that they had concerns about the safety of electric vehicles and how reliable they are, such as on long journeys, while 4% were concerned about the resale value of the EV. See Table 2.6.

Over half (51.2%) of respondents who do not own an EV said that they would consider buying one. This was particularly so for females aged 18 to 29 years (62.5%), and females aged 30 to 44 years (60.6%), compared with 58.3% of young males aged 18 to 29 years and 55.8% of males aged between 30 and 44 years. Cost was the main factor that would influence their decision to buy an EV with 57.8% saying that they are too expensive to buy. Males particularly so felt that they were too expensive – 60.3% of males compared with 55.3% of females. Nearly two thirds (65.2%) of males aged 30 to 44 years said that the cost of EVs was an inhibiting factor. Affordability to run was a consideration for over four in ten (40.3%) respondents who do not currently own an EV, while the availability of financial incentives such as toll discounts for EVs was an influencing factor for one in sixteen (7.5%). Toll discounts are available for BEVs and PHEVs. Overnight charging at low cost was important for one third of these respondents, for example charging at their home on low cost night time rates. See Tables 2.7 and 2.8.