EV registrations up 82% as petrol prices surge again

In July, the first month of the new 262 licence plates, there were 20,322 new private cars registered for the first time, with 7,216 of them being electric cars

From September 1, excise begins a phased restoration, adding 9c to petrol and 10c to diesel. 

Registrations of new electric cars rose by 82% in July, according to data from the Central Statistics (CSO), compared to the same period last year, just as the price of petrol and diesel started to surge again.

In July, the first month of the new 262 licence plates, there were 20,322 new private cars registered for the first time, up 2% year-on-year, with 7,216 of them being electric cars, up from 3,973 last year.

Between January and July, there were 101,466 new private cars registered for the first time, up 4%, with electric cars accounting for 26% of them.

In addition, the number of new plug-in hybrid electric vehicles registered in July fell by 5%, to 2,926. The year-to-date share of this category in 2026 among new private cars stood at 15%.

The combined share of petrol and diesel cars among new private cars licensed from January to July fell to 33% from 44% last year.

CSO statistician Damien Lenihan said in the first seven months of 2026, there was a 57% rise in new private electric cars licensed when compared with the same period in 2025.

“We can also see that more than a quarter, 26%, of all new private cars licensed between January and July 2026 were electric. Over the same seven-month period, there was a fall of 22% in the number of new petrol cars licensed. Similarly, there was a 24% decrease in the number of new diesel cars licensed,” he said.

The total number of used imported private cars, registered for the first time last month, rose 28%, to 8,506.

Overall, Toyota was the most popular make of new private car licensed last month, while the Volkswagen ID.4 was the most popular make of electric car.

The growing popularity of electric cars comes as the price at the pumps increased again over the last few weeks following the resumption of hostilities between the US and Iran.

According to data from AA Ireland, diesel prices have risen 19c in a month to an average of €1.92 per litre, while petrol has increased by 9c to €1.84 a litre.

AA Ireland said for a motorist filling 50 litres, that is €9.50 more for a tank of diesel, and €4.50 more for petrol.

Oil prices surged again in July, following a decline at the start of the month, on the resumption of the conflict between the US and Iran. Brent crude oil, a global benchmark of oil prices, was trading at about $71 (€61.51) a barrel at the start of July and reached over $100 a barrel around July 23.

It has come down since that high and has been trading about $87.50 a barrel on Tuesday, still well above prices before the war.

Irish consumers have yet to feel the full pinch of rising oil prices due to the Government’s decision to cut excise rates on fuels in response to the outbreak of the war. AA Ireland said the temporary reductions of 27c per litre on petrol and 32c on diesel were extended in full to August 31. 

However, those rates could be rolled back over the coming months. From September 1, excise begins a phased restoration, adding 9c to petrol and 10c to diesel.

Further rollbacks of the cuts are expected at the start of each month up to December unless the Government announces further measures during the budget in October.