Top 11 FAQ’s of Electric Car Ownership and Charging in Ireland 2019

Electric cars have become increasingly popular in recent years. Why? Not only are these vehicles easier to maintain but also produce a negligible amount of pollution in the environment. Due to the increasing popularity, Ireland is planning on switching to electric cars. But with these new vehicles come numerous questions. Here we’re going to answer the top 11 questions we get about electric cars.

1. How do electric cars help the environment?  
Electric cars run on batteries – which means no harmful exhaust emissions. This means that the overall air pollution of the environment reduces. Moreover, electric cars can also be charged using renewable energy (such as solar energy) which further reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Lastly, there is a growing trend of eco-friendly production for EVs – meaning that materials used to make the car are recycled. This also reduces pollution in the environment.
 

2. Will an electric car save me money?
Yes, it will. Why? Because the operating cost of an EV is much lower than that of a normal car. Plug-in electric cars have much lower fuel consumption compared to the traditional gasoline-powered car.
 

3. How does the electric car tax credit work in Ireland?
Electric car owners in Ireland pay the lowest motor tax rate – which is only €120 per year. This is because all electric car owners (registered before December 2021) are exempted from the VRT, which is about €5000.
 

4. Are electric car charging points free?
Ireland has around 1100 electric car charging points and all these standard car charging points are free. However, the ‘fast-charge’ charging stations ask for payments.
 

5. Can electric cars charge at home?
Yes, in fact, more than 80% of your EV charging will be done at your home. EV car charger installations at home (on an outer wall) cost around €700 to €800.
 

6. Which electric car is the cheapest in Ireland?
The cheapest EV car in Ireland as of right now is the new Nissan Leaf because the VRT on it is €0.
 

7. How do electric car chargers work?
EV car chargers work by pumping electricity into the car’s battery. Moreover, the car charger also monitors the electric car’s battery to avoid any kind of damage during the charging process. All you need to do is simply plug in your EV and the battery will start charging.
 

8. Where are electric car charging stations?
Because there are over 1100 EV charging stations in Ireland, you can conveniently find them almost anywhere. In car-parks, common retail venues, popular leisure venues, transport hubs, etc.
 

9. How is an electric car charged?
Electric cars use electricity to run. That electricity is stored in the batteries of the car – what the battery does is that it powers an electric motor that is connected with the wheels of the car. It is the battery that is charged via charging stations.
 

10. Which is the best EV car charger?
The 50kW DC charger is the best charger in the market. It charges your EV up to 80% in less than 30 minutes.
 

11. Will Electric Car batteries improve?
In the future, yes. Companies like Tesla are working on new and improved batteries that will take significantly fewer minutes to charge and will last longer than the existing batteries on the market.

All in all, electric cars are the future of all vehicles. Investing in an EV isn’t just beneficial for the owner but also for the environment. With climate change being a global threat EVs are an excellent solution to minimize waste and improve lifestyles.