Low sales of EV vehicles in Mayo is confirmed

Motorists in Mayo are slow to switch to electric vehicles.

Only 7.4% of new cars registered in the county this year were EV models.

That compares to 71.4% of cars powered by petrol or diesel.

Mayo's position in not unique when compared to other rural counties where EV models are not a popular choice.

However, one in five new cars sold in Mayo this year have been hybrid models, according to information furnished to Fine Gael TD Richard Bruton.

He said higher incentives for ­rural-based motorists to switch to electric should be considered.

Current incentives include a €3,500 purchase grant for new EVs, reduced Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), benefit-in-kind tax relief and a €300 home charger grant.

“I’d love to see some higher incentive for those in rural areas who don’t have as many public transport alternatives,” Mr Bruton told The Irish Independent.

“That can be difficult to design, but perhaps it could be done through motor tax.”

The effectiveness of financial incentives is not clear, however.