Ireland saw electric car registrations jump 110% in April, lifting EVs to 22% of new sales as fuel costs and incentives drive demand.
A sharp rise in electric vehicle registrations is reshaping Ireland’s new car market, with April figures showing a leap that would be hard to ignore.
New data from Misryoum reports that 2,799 electric cars were registered during the month, up 109.7% compared with 1,335 in April last year. The jump reflects how many drivers are reacting to higher running costs, accelerating the move toward charging instead of filling up.
For consumers, this kind of shift matters because it affects what dealers stock, how quickly charging networks expand, and how quickly familiar driving routines start to change.
The momentum also lifted the overall market. Misryoum says total new car registrations rose 17% in April to 10,184 vehicles, even as the wider picture for the year remains steadier, with registrations up 2% to 75,074 so far in 2026.
Electric vehicles are taking an increasing slice of the market. Year to date, 16,779 EVs have been registered, up 49% on the same period last year, bringing EVs to 22% of all new car sales.
That share is important because it signals a transition from niche adoption to a more mainstream buying pattern, even if different buyers are being pulled by different incentives.
Misryoum also points to what is driving the gains in battery electric vehicles. Brian Cooke of Misryoum says strong BEV performance is backed largely by private buyers, who make up 77% of BEV sales, supported by government incentives.
He warned that momentum needs to be protected, adding that reducing or ending supports would risk slowing the shift. In his view, maintaining and extending incentives, alongside investing in infrastructure, is crucial if the trend is to continue.
Meanwhile, top electric brands in Ireland this year include Hyundai, Volkswagen and Kia, according to Misryoum.. A spokesperson for Volkswagen Group Ireland said the registrations are rising as more motorists feel confident switching to electromobility, citing fuel costs, charging improvements, incentives and the perceived value of EVs.
The latest split of the new car market shows hybrids still lead at 26.7%, with EVs at 22%, and petrol at 21.3%. Plug-in hybrids account for 14.4%, while diesel continues to decline at 12.9%.
Misryoum notes that non-EV segments are moving too: light commercial vehicle registrations fell 3% in April to 2,450 units, though they are up 14% year to date. Heavy goods vehicles dropped 21% in April and are nearly 10% lower for the year.
At the same time, used imports climbed sharply in April, up 43.1% to 7,510 vehicles, with imports up 40.1% so far this year. That points to continued pressure on household budgets, as drivers look for lower-cost options while managing higher running costs.
This blend of faster EV adoption and stronger used-import activity suggests Irish motorists are both changing and shopping smarter, and that balance may define the market for the rest of the year.