Lack of second-hand electric cars a 'real barrier' to affordability

The Government's Climate Action Plan aims to have about 950,000 EVs on Irish roads by the end of the decade, but experts have cast doubt on the figures unless the barriers like second-hand imports are addressed.

The lack of second-hand electric vehicles (EV) in the car market is a "real barrier" and a "missing piece" of the electrification of cars on Irish roads, a leading authority on sustainable energy has said.

University College Cork professor of sustainable energy Hannah Daly said those who seek out new cars typically do not have the same budgetary constraints as others and can afford EVs.

EVs have long been lamented as still too expensive in persuading motorists to make the shift from diesel and petrol-fuelled cars, which are major contributors to Ireland's transport and overall greenhouse gas emissions.

It is the second-hand market that is currently lacking, Prof Daly said.

Speaking to TDs and senators at the Oireachtas climate committee, she said: "The average new car bought in Ireland costs around €40,000 — I do not have the latest information there — but there are EVs on the market that will do more than 400km on a single charge, which cost around €30,000. 

"While you are not going to get a large luxury seven-seater EV for that, it is well within the budget of most people who buy new cars to buy an electric car. They might have a preference for a larger, higher, more luxury brand but cost is not such a major barrier. 

However, the availability of electric cars on the second-hand car market is a real barrier to their affordability for the majority of people. That is something that can only be addressed by increasing new car sales now and in the second-hand car market."

The second-hand car market should be part of the drive to EVs, she said.

"We also need to be very mindful of used car imports. Right now, almost all used car imports are fossil fuel vehicles. There is a missing piece there on incentivising the import of second-hand EVs and targeting the wait for second-hand imports, which mainly come from the UK."

Prof Daly said while EV sales were promising, now representing 18% of new car sales, the sale of fossil-fuelled cars is also growing faster.

Until Brexit was finalised, thousands of motorists in Ireland sought out cars from the UK in search of savings. 

The second-hand market meant Irish motorists could buy high-end brands such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and Volvo and save thousands of euro in the process, even when taking vehicle registration tax (VRT) into consideration when registering in Ireland.

The Government's Climate Action Plan aims to have about 950,000 EVs on Irish roads by the end of the decade, but experts have cast doubt on the figures unless the barriers like second-hand imports are addressed.

Editor of IrishEVs.com Tom Spencer has long campaigned for restrictions on the UK market to be softened in order to accelerate the transition.

"Given that Ireland has continually failed to meet its emissions targets, and that the cost-of-living crisis means even the cheapest EVs are unaffordable for the majority, it is time that the Government removed the unnecessary vehicle registration tax and Vat imports on second hand electric cars from the UK.

"This would kickstart the secondhand EV market in Ireland by providing a massive reduction in cost to purchase, allowing more people to benefit from the lower running costs that EVs offer, while reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions," he said in July.