The number of new electric cars licensed for the first time in 2022 increased by 81% to 15,462 compared with the previous year, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office.
Overall, 101,349 new cars were licensed last year, a slight decrease compared with 2021.
The CSO said the number of used cars licensed last year decreased by 32% to 46,567 compared with a year earlier.
Brian Cooke, Director General of Society of the Irish Motor Industry, said electric car sales are coming from a base of zero. “We’re in the early stages of the electric vehicle project, but momentum is there and we will see a further increase this year.”
He said overall car sales were not as strong as the industry would have hoped, but supply issues experienced in 2022 should unwind this year.
The figures show that the 27% of new private cars licensed were diesel, compared with 34% in 2021, and there was a fall of 55% in the number of used imported diesel cars licensed last year.
Toyota was the most popular make of new private car licensed in 2022 and the most popular model of new private car licensed in 2022 was Hyundai Tucson followed by Toyota Yaris, Toyota Corolla, and Kia Sportage.
Of new electric cars licensed last year, the top make and model was Volkswagen ID.4 followed by Hyundai Ioniq, and Tesla Model 3.
Article Source: Sales of electric cars increased by 81% in 2022 – CSO – RTE