Electric vehicles

Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland has a target under the Climate Action Plan 2023 to have 30% of our private car fleet switched to electric by 2030.

This page gives an overview of some of the grant supports and information available for electric vehicle owners and buyers.

An electric vehicle (EV) has an electric motor that is powered by a battery which is charged by an external source of electricity.

There are 2 main types of EVs:

• Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) –are powered by a battery only.
• Hybrid electric vehicles –have an engine and electric motor – one powered by a battery and the other is fuel-powered and generally uses petrol or diesel.

You may be able to get a grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) if you buy a battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) that meets specific standards.

You can get a grant of up to €3,500 for battery-powered electric vehicles (BEV).

The grant for BEVs only applies to new cars with a full price of between €14,000 and €60,000.

Your car dealer will apply for the grant for you, and then deduct the grant amount from the total price of your car.

The grant of €2,500 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) has been removed.

Electric vehicle grants for heavy duty vehicles

If your business wants to buy zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles (ZEHDVs), you may qualify for a grant. The Zero-Emission Heavy Duty Vehicle Purchase Grant Scheme offers grants to help companies buy ZEHDVs instead of diesel vehicles. The grant amount is calculated as a percentage of the price difference between the ZEHDV and a diesel version.

The amount of grant you get depends on the vehicle type, the size of your company and whether you have received previous grants under the scheme. The maximum amount of funding available is €500,000.

To apply, complete the application form and submit it by email to zehdvgrant@pierse.ie. More information, including the scheme rules and calculation examples, is available on the Transport Infrastructure Ireland website.

Home Charger Grant Scheme

Since 1 January 2024, you can also apply for the Home Charger Grant Scheme, for up to €300 towards the installation costs of a home charger.

EV Apartment Charging Grant

The EV Apartment Charging Grant is for dwellings which do not have access to a driveway such as apartments, duplexes as well as mixed developments.

External charge points throughout the country are available through the ESB ecars network. There are several private charge point operators with sites in Ireland. You can use your onboard navigation system to find a charge location, or you can use an app to help you find one.

The Government has a National Road EV Charging Network Plan. It plans to develop high-powered charging points along motorways and dual carriages. These are expected to be in place by December 2025.

As part of this plan, there is a grant available for the private sector. The ZEVI TII EV Recharging Infrastructure Light Duty Vehicle (LDV) National Road Grant Scheme Phase 2 is open until 15 January 2025. It is open to petrol or service stations, car park owners, hotels, supermarkets and retail outlets, and anyone with a publicly accessible site within 3km of the Scheme roads.

The annual motor tax rate for an electric vehicle is €120 per year for a Battery Electric Vehicle. Electric vehicles are the lowest tax band for motor tax.

From 1 July 2025, green flash registration plates will be introduced. It will help identify zero emission vehicles on the roads. They will not be compulsory.

Existing owners can choose to fit their vehicles with the new plate. The plates will look the same as existing plates but will have a green flash or stripe on the right-hand side. The usual numbers and county identifiers will stay the same.

Vehicles (cars, motorbikes, vans, buses and trucks) must emit zero emissions at the tailpipe to be eligible. This includes full battery electric vehicles and, in the future, fuel cell hydrogen vehicles. See Zero Emissions Ireland for more information.

Read more about electric vehicles and grants for electric vehicles on the SEAI website. You can get a full list of electric vehicle grants and schemes available. You can also read about Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) relief. Zero Emissions Ireland has information for the public and for businesses.