OUR WORLD:
IRISH motorists like to hang on to their cars, with over three-quarters of drivers here owning a vehicle that is more than five years old, a study has found.
The AA Ireland Customer Opinion Survey also revealed 14% expect to wring every last kilometre they can by driving their motor until it stops working.
Half of drivers also told how they cover no more than 10,000km a year and 60% have paid less than €20,000 for a car.
The study also estimated that nearly 2.5 million people hold the keys to their own vehicle in Ireland, while an estimated 80% of the Irish population have either a full, provisional or licence issued in a different country.
The AA said there were both pros and cons to having an older car – one being it’s better for the planet to hold on to them but the negative being older vehicles are likely to be less fuel efficient.
Jennifer Kilduff, Head of Marketing & PR for The AA, said: “There is also a higher risk of older vehicles breaking down. We see this daily at The AA.
“However, with regular maintenance, cars can be kept on the road for decades.”
The research also found that nearly six in 10 owed their vehicle outright, while 60% said they paid less than €20,000 for theirs.
The data also showed that 18% spent between €10,000 and €15,000 on their vehicle while only 10% forked out more than €40,000.
The AA said this indicates the public still sees a car “as a necessity rather than a luxury purchase.”
They also found that half of respondents drive less than 27km a day with 42% revealing they make 90% or more of their journeys by car.
The survey also revealed that 42% of respondents spent between €250 and €500 a year on vehicle maintenance.
Mrs Kilduff added: “Getting your car serviced and maintained regularly at a trusted garage not only contributes to safer driving but can help with fuel saving and the overall cost of car ownership in the long run.”
Nearly all motorists on Irish roads have fully comprehensive cover – with just 6% driving around with a third party, fire and theft policy.
Electric vehicles were also sparking the interest of Irish motorists with 4% now driving them.
Hybrids were also making inroads, with 9% of drivers using one and most respondents said they were open to the idea of turning to electric when changing their car.
The majority (28%) will be considering a hybrid, 26% a diesel, and 20% petrol – but fully electric vehicle purchases are still in the minority according to the research.
Mrs Kilduff added, “The main concerns regarding the switch to electric are battery life and the lack of driving range that’s on offer – although this slightly contradicts the respondents that cover no more than 10,000km per year and becomes less of an issue with every generation of new EV – while a lack of charging infrastructure is still a sticking point for some.”
Most respondents think that EVs are better for the environment than combustion-engined vehicles but there is still a perception that battery life isn’t as reliable as it is for combustion-engined cars.
More than half of respondents expected EV batteries to last only 100,000km. Mrs Kilduff said: “With half of the survey participants covering less than 10,000km a year, this would be more than enough to cover a decade of motoring.”
All drivers can get a grant of up to €3,500 for an electric vehicle. By 2030, the plan is to have 945,000 electric vehicles on Irish roads.
This will help us make sure that by 2050, our transport sector doesn’t produce any carbon emissions.
In February, DoneDeal carried out a consumer survey and found “90% of electric car drivers in Ireland have noted their running costs are cheaper than petrol/diesel cars. They said: “Amidst the backdrop of a cost of living crisis, this highlights the potential economic benefits longer an issue, and with an increasing number of brands and models present in the EV segment, the drop in EV sales is demand driven. In Ireland private consumers have been the key drivers of the EV market, and these buyers need greater re-assurances to be convinced to make the change.”
Figures released by SIMI for April show that 1,091 new EVs were registered, which was 41.4 per cent lower than the 1,863 registrations in April 2023.
So far this year, 9,028 new electric cars have been registered which is a 19.1 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2023 when 11,160 electric cars were registered.
The data also showed that official 241 new vehicle registrations for April were down 3.6 per cent (8,591) compared to April 2023. associated with owning an electric vehicle.
Their study also shows “the majority of new EV drivers don’t plan to revert back to traditional ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles.
“Once a person drives a new EV, the majority are converted and don’t look back.”