Electric Cars Outsell Diesel in Ireland for First Time in 2025

According to figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), battery electric vehicles accounted for 18.9 % of all new car registrations in 2025, surpassing diesel’s 17.1 % share. Petrol and hybrid vehicles still hold significant portions of the market, but the rise of EVs highlights the transformation taking place in the Irish car market.

Why This Matters

Diesel was once the foundation of Ireland’s new car market, especially for long-distance driving and fleet vehicles. 

However, global trends in emissions, rising fuel costs, and improving EV technology have changed buying behaviour and Irish drivers are responding. EVs are now not just environmentally appealing, but increasingly practical and cost-competitive with traditionally fuelled cars.

That EV registrations have now overtaken diesel is a strong signal that Ireland’s transport sector and consumers are taking significant steps towards electrification, in line with national climate targets.

What’s Driving the Growth in EV Adoption?

Several factors are helping boost EV numbers on Irish roads:

• Improved model choice: from compact city cars to family SUVs, more EV options are available than ever.
• Better technology: longer ranges and faster charging are easing range anxiety for many buyers.
• Government incentives: supports such as the purchase grants, home and apartment charging grants and tax relief have made EV ownership more affordable.
• Public charging expansion: with plans and scheme coming online, the rollout of public charge points will make everyday use easier for all drivers.

These trends have helped EV registrations grow strongly throughout 2025, often with year-on-year monthly increases of 30 % or more.

What About Petrol and Hybrids?

In 2025, petrol cars remained the single largest category on the road at around 25 % of registrations, followed by hybrid electric vehicles at over 22 %. Plug-in hybrids also saw significant uptake to almost 15%. Market share of new car registrations by fuel type in Ireland in 2025 shows:

It is also worth noting that BEVs are the only non-tailpipe emission free car – making it better for climate and for the air quality in towns and cities around Ireland. 

Further details on the difference between BEVs, PHEVs and HEVs can be found here: https://www.seai.ie/plan-your-energy-journey/for-your-home/electric-vehicles/about-evs/types-of-electric-vehicle

Looking Ahead

Ireland’s shift to electric reflects a broader movement happening across Europe and globally, where EV sales continue to climb as countries decarbonise transport and manufacturers transition to electric. 

While there are still barriers to overcome going forward, achieving this milestone provides a meaningful checkpoint on Ireland’s road to net-zero transport.