The switch to electric motoring appears to be moving into the fast lane with new figures showing electric car sales have risen by 542 per cent since the start of the year.

According to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi), there were 1,129 electric car registrations in January and February, up from just 176 in the same period last year.

The two-month tally for 2019 almost surpassed total sales for last year, which amounted to 1,233.

Minister for Climate Action Richard Bruton hailed the new figures as a breakthrough. “The record growth in electric vehicles sales in 2019 demonstrates the willingness of Irish consumers to embrace the change to a low-carbon future,” he said.

“The Government is playing its part with a wide range of incentives supporting the purchase of electric vehicles and an investment of €10 million in a significant expansion of the public charging network.”

“The environmental benefits, longer range and low running costs of modern electric vehicles make them a viable option for all consumers,” he said.

The performance of the rest of the car market tells a different story, Simi said, with new car registrations for the month of February down 11.1 per cent at 15,128 when compared with the same month last year.

Registrations for the year to date are also down by 12.2 per cent at 47,425 compared with last year (54,034).

Sterling

The slowdown in new car sales here has been linked to the Brexit-related slide in sterling.

Irish consumers have been taking advantage of the favourable exchange rate to buy used premium models in the UK over new models in the Republic, which has hit sales here.

That said, the Simi figures show imported used cars for February (8,861) were slightly down on February 2018 (8,900) and year-to-date are down by 0.5 per cent at 17,865.

Volkswagen is the best-selling brand in the new-car market, with 5,299 registrations since the start of the year, ahead of Hyundai with 5,243,Toyota with 4,181, Ford with 4,099, and Skoda with 3,943.

The Hyundai Tucson is the best-selling model on the Irish new-car market this year, with 1,897 sales.

Brian Cooke, Simi director general designate, said: “With Brexit looming, new vehicle registrations continue to be negatively impacted across nearly all of our industry.”

“However, the one exception is the sales of electric vehicles, which increased by 542 per cent this year compared to last year, and by the end of this quarter we will have sold more new EVs than in the whole of last year,” Mr Cooke said.

“This increase is a result of a concerted effort by all stakeholders; by the industry in supplying more, new EVs with greater travel range; by the Government through the generous taxation and other incentives; and by SEAI [Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland] with their grant scheme,” he said.