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Not long ago, electric cars seemed like something way off in the future. Now though, with urgent environmental concerns and climate targets, they’re going mainstream.

In 2018, the number of electric cars on our roads doubled, and they’re set to do the same again this year.

The government plans to ban the sale of fossil fuel cars from 2030. They aim to have 950,000 electric vehicles on Irish roads by then too.

That means around one-third of all the vehicles sold during the next decade will be either fully battery powered or plug-in hybrids. Plug-in hybrids have a regular fuel engine as well as an electric battery, but still have lower emissions than a petrol or diesel car.

So why are increasing numbers of Irish people making the switch? Guillaume Séguin, 39, lives in Cork City and works for a software company. He explains that he’s always been interested in new technology, but says the low running costs of electric vehicles are their biggest advantage.

“If I charge at home, it costs me €2.50 overnight. That gets me 150km to 200km in range. It gets me going around Cork for a week,” he says. “Of course the car’s a bit more expensive in the first place, but you get the cost back in a few years, depending on your mileage.”

(Image: Guillaume Séguin)

Two of the most popular electric cars on the Irish market, the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe, retail between €24,000 to €29,000.

This might sound pricey, but factoring in SEAI grants of between €2,000 and €5,000, on top of cheaper motor tax, VRT, discounted tolls and minimal fuel costs, for many it’s a sound investment.

Affordable and flexible financing is also available, with credit unions across Ireland offering low interest green car loans to encourage community uptake.

(Image: Richard Kelly/flickr)

Charging at the 1,100 public charge points across the island of Ireland is currently free of charge, a great advantage for early adopters.

There are plans to massively expand the network, including legally requiring new non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces to have charging points from January 2025.

For Heather Nuzum, a midwife and mother of five from Carrigaline, going electric was an easy choice. “The environment is a big issue now,” she says, “so you can feel good for doing your bit.” She says that the other reasons are mainly “financial”.

Heather’s fuel costs are minimal, with a free charger at work as well as a NightSaver electricity rate and a charger at home. She rarely spends over €14 per week on charging her vehicle, she says.

(Image: Heather Nuzum)

The 45-year-old mother of five has been driving her Nissan Leaf for two years, while both her husband and 20-year-old son drive a Renault Zoe. She wouldn’t ever go back, she says, as she also prefers the driving experience.

“It’s automatic, there’s no gears,” she explains, “I drive in eco mode all the time, which increases regenerative braking and saves energy.”

Guillaume agrees that it’s much more enjoyable to drive electric. “Another thing people forget is how nice electric cars are to drive,” he says. “They are much more powerful... they can go faster... It’s a really smooth drive, and quiet with no vibrations,” he says. “Just try it, do a test drive. People are really surprised.”

If you’re planning to buy a new electric or hybrid car, talk to your local credit union about their flexible car loans today.