Electric vehicle ownership higher in urban areas while rural dwellers more likely to opt for petrol or diesel

Electric vehicles ownership rates were highest in the eastern and midlands region of the country and lowest in northern and western parts.

More than one in nine people (11%) in Ireland live in a household that has an electric vehicle, but over half of people in rural areas will opt for petrol or diesel models the next time they change cars.

Research from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on the energy behaviours of Irish households has found that, despite the energy regulator repeatedly urging people to switch to find better deals at a time of surging prices, only 24% changed tariffs in the last year.