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Cost of electric cars 'discouraging factor' for 70% in Northern Ireland

"Government should be legislating and making policy that make it easy for people to make those changes"

Shauna Corr, 28 Jan

The price of electric cars puts most people off buying one in Northern Ireland, according to an official report.

The Department for Infrastructure’s ‘Attitudes Towards E-Vehicles 2021/22’ research revealed 70% see the cost as a discouraging factor.

But they also found low running costs, being ‘environmentally friendly’ and grants - which are no longer available - were the top three reasons people would consider making the switch.

DfI surveyed 4,103 over 16s to gauge whether attitudes to electric vehicles are changing.

Eight in 10 said they plan to buy an electric vehicle within the next five years while 37% say they will ‘definitely’ or ‘strongly consider’ going electric for their next purchase - up from 25% since 2019/20.

Green Party

leader Cllr Mal O’Hara said: “It is welcome to see the significant increase in public appetite for purchasing electric vehicles. It shows that more and more people are looking at options which can help them play their part in reducing emissions and averting the climate and biodiversity crises.

“The role of the Government should be legislating and making policies that make it easy for people to make those changes.”

The sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in the UK by 2030 and hybrids by 2035.

At the end of June last year, just 11,476 of the 1.25m vehicles registered here were ultra-low emissions vehicles with NI viewed as trailing behind other UK regions on policies to support the transition to EVs.

But EV charging infrastructure also falls short of what is needed.

DfI

published its action plan for EV infrastructure across Northern Ireland in November.

They said at the time: “Increased provision of charging infrastructure and operators, the cost of charging and how to pay for charging have been highlighted as fundamental issues which need to be addressed for people wanting to make the transition from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles.”

Researchers found NI needs an additional 950 publicly available rapid EV chargers by 2025 to ensure no resident is more than 25 miles from a rapid charger.

They also outlined plans to provide heavy duty EV charging hubs every 60km by 2035.

Cllr O’Hara added: “There are still issues with charging infrastructure which must be addressed and the cost is still a barrier to many families, particularly in the current economic climate.”

But he also says “electric vehicles are not the cure all that some present them as”.

“We need to ensure a modal shift to more sustainable public transport. That means greater investment in cycling networks, trains, buses and more walkable urban areas.

“That will give more and more people the opportunity to use their private car less or give it up completely.

“I understand that this is much harder in rural areas or for families doing the busy school run or those with additional needs who rely on a private car for mobility.

“A transition to more electric cars coupled with greater sustainable transport options are key to addressing the climate and biodiversity crises as well as toxic air in Northern Ireland.”