Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland: Information for the general public

There are many types of electric vehicles on the market today. Get to know your battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from your plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) and learn how they work.

What is an Electric Car? How do Electric Cars Work? - SEAI

Do you want to pollute less, reduce your motoring costs, or drive the latest technology? Electric vehicles have the answer.

Benefits Of Electric Cars: Why Drive An EV? - Electric Vehicles - SEAI

Compare and calculate EVs with petrol or diesel cars.

Compare Electric Car Running Costs - Electric Vehicles - SEAI

Ready to drive electric? We're ready to help with advice, guides, and grant information.

Buying An Electric Car In Ireland - Electric Vehicles - SEAI

For a list of all electric vehicle grants please go to Electric Car Rebates and Grant Amounts - EV Grants - SEAI. Please note that there are also grants available for commercial electric vans – see the business section of our website.

What an EV charge point is

How EV charging works

The Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant assists homeowners who install an electric vehicle charge point on their property.

Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant - SEAI

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.

EV Apartment Charging Grant - SEAI

There is a government initiative to support the roll out of Electric Vehicle Public Charge Points on public streets, or in public car parks which provide overnight parking for local residents.

Please get in touch with your Local Authority to find out how they can help.

Electric Vehicle Public Charge Point Grant - SEAI

As well as the ESB ecars network, there are a number of private charge point operators with sites already live in Ireland.

The new Office established in July will coordinate the development a single interactive portal for mapping the location and availability of all publicly accessible EV charging points in Ireland and provide offer a central source of information to EV owners.

According to international research by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and by EVFireSafe in Australia, electric vehicles (EVs) and EV technology are overall less likely to cause a fire than a petrol or diesel engine vehicle.

The European Commission has also commenced research on Electric Vehicles Fire Risk Assessment in Indoor Car Parks, which is due to be completed in April 2025.

Fires related to Electric Vehicle technology, particularly lithium batteries, are often highlighted due to an unfamiliarity with EVs, as well as the perceived newness of the battery technology.

Lithium battery packs are an established technology which are generally considered safe when handled and used correctly, with appropriate precautions taken. Lithium batteries are commonplace in devices of all sizes and where issues have arisen in other sectors in the past, appropriate steps such as recalls were undertaken.

EV batteries are enclosed in a protective space designed to shield the battery from damage and to contain any incidents which may occur.

EV manufacturers are subject to high standards and requirements in both their role as users of battery technology, as well as the wider framework of safety controls which are applied to the manufacturers of any type of vehicle available on the EU market.

Any consumer who has concerns about the safety of their vehicle should report it to the manufacturer or to a qualified EV mechanic and to follow the advice provided.