Electric Vehicles FAQ

Series production passenger cars or commercial vehicles (VRT categories A and B) that are: powered only by an electric motor and registered before 31 December 2022 are eligible for relief from VRT up to a maximum amount of €5,000. SEAI provides grant supports towards the purchase of N1 category electric vehicles for business and public entities. N1 category vehicles are typically small goods carrying vans with a technically permissible maximum mass not exceeding 3500kg.

A maximum grant of €3,800 is available for qualifying N1 category EVs when purchased commercially. Approved EVs with a list price of less than €14,000 will not receive a grant. It should be noted that these grants apply to new vehicles only and cannot be claimed on second-hand vehicles.

The grant level depends on the list price of the vehicle. This is the full non-discounted price in the absence of VRT relief or grant support.

Important note: Grants are no longer available for PHEV vehicles from 1st January 2022.

The most common location for charging electric vehicles is at home. A government subsidy of up to €600 is available to help with the cost of the wallbox and installation. The electricity is drawn from your home's supply and billed to you as usual by your electricity provider. The majority of people charge their vehicles overnight. Charging at work is becoming more and more popular. A expanding network of public charging stations is also available, with many individuals choosing to conduct errands while their vehicle charges. ESB, for example, owns and maintains about 1,100 public charging stations.

Charging times vary depending on the vehicle model and the power source used. The majority of people will charge using a Wallbox. It is, however, possible to charge via a domestic socket. For fast charging, a rapid charger can be used; however, at present, there are a limited amount of rapid charging stations in Ireland, and it is more expensive than standard charging.

You will be charged for the battery charge on your next electricity bill if you charge your electric car at home using a socket or Wallbox.

You can choose between two price schemes for public charging on the ESB public network: PAYG or Membership. The Membership price plan was created for heavier users that utilise the ESB public charging network at least five times per month. 

An electric vehicle will show that it is running low on power in the same way as a petrol or diesel vehicle will signal that it is running low on fuel. It has ample cautions on the display, and the usage of electricity is steady, so it will not abruptly shut off without notice.

Yes. The National Car Test (NCT) currently tests hybrid or electric vehicles.

As of July 2019, all newly registered electric vehicles must produce an artificial driving sound. This is because that all electric vehicles are almost silent at low speeds, therefore the risk of accidents occurring for pedestrians and cyclists can increase particularly unless an artificial driving sound is in place. However, we still encourage road users to exercise caution at all times. 

Yes, there is no need to worry about rain, a puddle or a car wash. The batteries in an electric vehicle are very well protected and water can’t get into the battery cells so they are completely safe.

No, waiting until the battery in an electric vehicle is completely empty before charging it has no benefit. It is perfectly fine to plug it in regardless of the amount of charge currently left on the battery; waiting until it is completely exhausted will not extend the battery's longevity. It is recommended that batteries only be charged to 80%.