EV registrations see 73% surge amid fuel price hikes 

Just under 3,100 new EVs were registered in April, figures from the CSO show 

The most popular brand of new electric car licensed in April 2026 was Toyota C-HR

The number of new private electric cars licensed last month rose by almost three-quarters when compared to the same period last year, amid soaring demand for the renewable alternative in the wake of rising fuel prices. 

New figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show a 73% rise in private EV licenses issued in April compared to the same period in 2025, with just under 3,100 being registered in total last month.

This means the share of EVs among new private cars from January to April 2026 was 23% compared with 16% in the same period of 2025, the CSO said. 

Meanwhile, the number of new plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) licensed in April increased by 3% compared to the same period last year, totalling 1,810 last month. 

The year-to-date share of PHEVs in 2026 among new private cars was comparable with 2025 at 15%.

Fall in hybrid vehicles 

However, CSO statistician Damien Lenihan said the CSO saw a decrease in the licensing of hybrid vehicles, which fell by 14% from 3,233 in April 2025 to 2,796 new private cars last month. 

The total number of used (imported) private cars licensed in April rose by 40% compared with the same period in 2025, with 1,543 used diesel private cars licensed in the month, compared with 1,504 in the same period of 2025. 

Meanwhile, the number of used private petrol cars licensed rose by 21% in April compared with the same month last year.

In the first four months of 2026, there was a 43% rise in new private EVs licensed when compared with the same period in 2025. The CSO said the same four-month period showed a fall of 23% in the number of new petrol cars licensed. 

Similarly, a 24% decrease in the number of new diesel cars licensed was seen in the same time period. 

The total number of new goods vehicles licensed for the first time in April was 3,787, up 21% on the same time last year. There were just over 14,000 new goods vehicles licensed from January to April 2026, which was an increase of 18% on the 11,859 licensed over the same period of 2025.

Popular models

Data from the CSO also shows that Toyota was the most popular make of new private car licensed in April 2026 at 1,545 vehicles, followed by Volkswagen, Skoda, Kia, and Hyundai. Together, these five makes represented 51% of all new private cars licensed in April 2026.

The most popular brand of new electric car licensed in April 2026 was Toyota C-HR, followed by Skoda Enyaq, and Volkswagen ID.4.

Speaking on the continued rise in EV registrations, John O'Keeffe, CEO of ePower, said: "Irish consumers are embracing electric vehicles in far greater numbers, and businesses need to be ready for that shift. 

A 73% increase in EV registrations in April compared to the same month last year is a significant milestone, and with almost one in four new private cars so far this year fully electric, EV adoption is on a continued upward trajectory in Ireland's motor industry."