Donal Hickey: What will the government do when we all switch to electric cars

If the target of having one million electric vehicles on our roads by 2030 is reached, the state’s coffers stand to lose €1.5bn

New electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle purchases accounted for 33% of car sales in the first five months of this year.

Politicians often mention the importance of listening to the so-called man, or woman, on the street as a barometer of how people are thinking. Opinion polls are not always needed.

The other day, I was buttonholed on the street by a man who was clearly bothered by just one issue: “What’s the Government going to do for tax revenue (from vehicle fuel) if everyone switches to electric cars?,’’ he asked.