Despite a fall-off in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) last year, sales are on course to deliver "a step-change" the year after next, an Oireachtas committee has heard.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) heard that there are 77,000 EVs on the road.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) said that this "is where we expect to be", en route to a target of 175,000 "at the end of 2025".
Declan Meally, head of transport at the authority, conceded that last year's figures were disappointing.
But he rejected that a lack of public charging points is behind it.
"Just over 10,000" EVs were bought last year which is "slightly below" targets, he noted.
Labour TD Alan Kelly wondered if this is fuelled by a lack of public charging points.
In rural Ireland, Mr Kelly said, "the idea of not being able to get to a point where you can charge your car quickly is a real issue".
The weak sales last year were due in part to disruption to the supply chain, Mr Meally said.
He insisted that charging infrastructure "is a key focus" for the authority.
"80% of charging will be done at home", he said, "when you're stopped at home, asleep, so that it's ready to go".
"So the perception that we need hundreds of thousands of chargers around the country is not there," Mr Meally stated.
"All you will need it, is just a splash for a couple of minutes and get home."
Committee Cathaoirleach Brian Stanley had some concerns.
"If the deputy wanted to go to Mayo, for example, or we'll say Leitrim or Sligo", the Sinn Féin TD suggested, he could be caught out "unless you knock at somebody's door that had a charging point".
"The range of the vehicles now will allow him to that that trip to Mayo and potentially back," Mr Meally said.
He also noted that of the EVs on the road, over 40,000 are grant-aided.
