Respondents were asked the factors that would influence them when considering purchasing a car. By far, the most common influencing factor was purchase price (65.7%), which was almost double the next biggest influencing factor – reliability at 35.7%. Cost of car tax was a consideration for one quarter (24.6%) of respondents, while 22.9% said that both engine efficiency and insurance costs were factors that would influence them when buying a car. Fuel emissions would be a consideration for 18% of respondents aged 18 years and over, while 14.6% thought that highest engine power was important. See Table 8.1 and Figure 8.1
How it looks was an influencing factor for over one fifth (22.6%) of males aged 18 to 24 years, while the resale value was a consideration for only 6.8% of males in this age cohort. For females aged 35 to 44 years, reliability at 33.4% was the next most common factor after purchase price. See Table 8.1.
Note that respondents could select more than one option.
| Purchase price | Reliability | Tax | Engine efficiency | Insurance | Size | Fuel emissions | Highest engine power | How it looks | Resale value | Payment plan available | Other | |
| Influencing factors | 65.7 | 35.7 | 24.6 | 22.9 | 22.9 | 19 | 18 | 14.6 | 9.6 | 9.2 | 3.2 | 11.9 |
Of all respondents aged 18 years and over, 1.5% stated that they own an electric vehicle (EV). EV ownership is slightly higher in Dublin than in the rest of the country – 1.6% of persons residing in Dublin own an EV compared to 1.4% of individuals residing outside of Dublin. EV ownership was also marginally higher in densely populated and intermediate populated areas, where 1.6% of persons living in these areas owned an EV, compared to 1.3% of persons residing in thinly populated areas. See Tables 8.2 and 8.3.
Of the 1.5% who stated they own an electric vehicle (EV), respondents were asked about their type of EV. Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), which use a combination of electric power and petrol or diesel, was by far the most common EV type (57.8%). HEVs are non-plug in. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) accounted for 17.5%. Almost one quarter (24.7%) were BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicle). BEVs do not use any fossil fuels. They use a battery as the sole means of energy storage for propulsion of the vehicle. See Table 8.4 and Figure 8.2.
Note that the responses provided by respondents are their understanding of their EV type.
| Electric vehicle (EV) ownership by type | |
| Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) | 57.8 |
| Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) | 17.5 |
| Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) | 24.7 |
When purchasing their EV, better affordability to run was by far the most common influencing factor at 77.8%, followed by making more of a contribution to a better environment (71.8%). Improved health from use was a consideration for 41.9% of owners of EVs, while more availability of overnight charging at low cost and reduced noise pollution was a consideration for 35.8% and 17.2% respectively. See Table 8.5, Figures 8.3 and 8.4.
| Better affordability to run | Making more of a contribution to a better environment | Improved health from use | More availability of overnight charging at low cost | Reduced noise pollution | Toll discounts | Other | |
| Influencing factors | 77.8 | 71.8 | 41.9 | 35.8 | 17.2 | 1.6 | 12.5 |
| Male | Female | |
| Better affordability to run | 75.6 | 79.2 |
| Toll discounts | 0 | 2.7 |
| More availability of overnight charging at low cost | 33.4 | 37.4 |
| Making more of a contribution to a better environment | 80.3 | 66.2 |
| Improved health from use | 39.6 | 43.4 |
| Reduced noise pollution | 21.2 | 14.6 |
| Other | 18.7 | 8.4 |
Almost four in every ten (39.8%) of respondents who do not currently own an EV, stated that they would consider purchasing one. The most common factor that would influence their decision is making more of a contribution to a better environment (55.6%), followed by more availability of charging points away from home and better affordability to run at 51.8% and 50.5% respectively. Better value was an influencing factor for 46.5% while more availability of overnight charging at low cost was important for 30.2%. See Tables 8.6 and 8.7.
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