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The Polo-sized car will be significantly cheaper than the all-electric ID3, launched this year.

VW getting ready to produce electric car for mass market

Volkswagen is preparing to launch a Polo-sized electric car costing between 20,000 and 25,000 Euros.

The electric iX should be in Ireland late next year.

BMW's new generation electric SUV for launch next year.

Despite an early start with the IX3, BMW has been slow enough to introduce its second all-electric car. It has now ramped up to produce one comparable to the X5.

Motors • 17 Nov 20

Skoda's all-electric Enyaq will arrive next summer.

Skoda's first electric car for launch next summer.

Skoda's latest crossover - the Enyaq - will be all-electric and should be on sale here by summer.

Motors • 12 Nov 20

Tesla is now a more valuable company than the Mercedes parent group.

How Tesla and Musk are blindsiding the traditional car industry

Less than 20 years ago Tesla hadn't even been founded. Now it's bringing about the greatest changes since the invention of the motor car, and in the process has become the most valuable car company in the world.

Motors • 22 Jul 20

Over two-thirds of Irish motorists are considering buying an electric or hybrid car

Majority of motorists plan to buy an electric or hybrid - report

Around 70% of motorists are planning to buy an electric or hybrid car in the near future, according to new research.

Motors • 20 Feb 20

What VW's Passat estate is likely to look like in the coming years.

Volkswagen's electric estate car of the future

As Volkswagen's electric car programme accelerates, we're beginning to see what cars like the Golf and Passat will look like in the not too distant future. Here's a preview of the plans for the Passat estate

Motors • 20 Nov 19

Ford's electric Mustang is a clear message to Tesla.

Ford challenges Tesla with all-electric Mustang, due here in 2020

Ford believes dull electric cars are a mistake and has put its chips on the table with its first all-electric car - an SUV version of the iconic Mustang. It's due in Ireland next year.

Motors • 18 Nov 19

Kia's new electric Niro and Soul models.

Kia launches two electric cars, claiming range of 452 kilometres

Kia's stand at the last Geneva motor show featured only electric cars, so it's no wonder it's emerging as an aggressive competitor in a fast-changing car market.

Motors • 29 Jun 19

The climate change plan seeks to have a million electric cars on Irish roads within 11 years.

The future is electric but how long can petrol and diesel last?

For the first time, we now have a time frame for the point at which diesel and petrol engines will be a thing of the past. And the changes are likely to start with the budget in October.

Motors • 18 Jun 19

The performance version of Peugeot's new 508 has a petrol engine and two electric motors.

Geneva Motor Show loses big name stands and focus is electric

Some of the biggest car companies in the world have ditched one of the biggest car shows in the world. Those who are attending will be focusing on electric offerings in the main.

Motors • 25 Feb 19

The SEAI says the transition to electric cars must be "rapid".

Energy authority calls for "rapid transition" to electric cars.

With transport now the single largest sector of energy use, the Sustainable Energy Authority says a transition to electric cars has to be "rapid".

Motors • 13 Dec 18

The battery capacity of the new i3 is now double that of the original car, launched 5 years ago

BMW claims 260km range in 'everyday conditions' for new i3

BMW says its new version of the electric i3 has doubled its battery capacity and can now run up to 260km on one charge "in everyday conditions".

Motors • 01 Oct 18

Some predict that there will be up to 40 million electric cars on the world's roads in twenty years.

Electric vehicles - the car industry gets serious

Some predictions are that there will be up to 40 million electric vehicles in the world in the next 20 years. The car industry is now very serious about meeting the demand, as the second part of our series shows.

Motors • 26 Sep 18

Demand for electric cars will grow and grow as bans loom on petrol and diesel.

Can electric vehicles save the planet ?

In the first of a two-part series, we examine the growth of electric vehicle use in Europe and around the world.

Motors • 23 Sep 18

A teaser image of Ford's first fully electric car, which is based on the Mustang.

Ford and Mercedes to take on Tesla with new electric cars

Tesla certainly had an early lead in the production of premium electric cars but, with numerous production delays, some other big names are now in the hunt for the same customers.

Motors • 13 Sep 18

A disguised test version of Audi's first all-electric SUV.

Audi to introduce first all-electric car with launch of new SUV

Audi is making a bold claim for its new e-tron SUV, describing it as the most efficient electric system on the market. It can re-generate energy every time the driver's foot is taken off the accelerator or when the car is braking.

Motors • 14 Aug 18

Insurance costs are the main concern for motorists.

Insurance still main source of financial concern for motorists.

Insurance is the biggest financial concern for motorists, with 61% of them citing it as their main cost, according to a new survey. The Carzone report also says almost two thirds of motorists plan to buy an electric or hybrid car "in the near future".

Motors • 17 Jul 18

Volkswagen's on-demand cars will be all electric vehicles.

Car companies get ready for a future of cars with no owners.

Some of the world's biggest car manufacturers are getting ready to offer vehicles to people who won't own them. Volkswagen and Volvo are to start providing cars "on-demand" via a smart app.

Motors • 09 Jul 18

The changeover to electric will have major effects on traditional car manufacturing jobs, the report says.

Electric cars will endanger 75,000 traditional German car jobs.

The switch to electric cars puts 75,000 engine and gearbox manufacturing jobs at risk, a study commissioned by German trade unions and the car industry has shown.

Motors • 05 Jun 18

Norwegians are expected to buy 50,000 electric cars this year.

Norwegians expected to buy 50,000 electric cars this year

They are light years ahead of the rest of Europe in terms of the use of electric cars. Our Motoring Editor, Donal Byrne, has been finding out how the Norwegians have almost completely reversed out of diesel and petrol.

Motors • 31 May 18

Kia's electric Niro will have a range of 450 kilometres, the company says.

Kia to launch fully electric version of its Niro compact SUV

Kia is to launch a fully electric version of its Niro model later this year and says the car will be capable of a 450 km range, using its "next generation" drivetrain.

Motors • 10 May 18

The system's artificial intelligence system allows the car to take advantage of cheaper electricity.

Smart device will counter peak demand problem for electric cars.

A British energy supplier has launched a charging unit that will enable owners of some electric vehicles to charge their cars and sell electricity back to the power grid. The unit will also address the problem of peak-time demand surges.

Motors • 25 Apr 18

Tesla's Model 3 seems to have turned the corner after initial production problems.

Cheaper Tesla now tops U.S. chart for electric car sales.

Tesla's Model 3 – the company's mass-market electric car – is now the best-selling alternative energy car on the United States market.

Motors • 06 Apr 18

Jaguar's all-electric I-Pace is now available to order, with a claimed range of almost 500 kilometres.

Jaguar launches first electric SUV to rival Tesla X.

Jaguar is the first of the premium manufacturers to launch an SUV to rival the Tesla X. The I-Pace seeks to give Jaguar an opening that other manufacturers are still working on and is due on sale this year.

Motors • 06 Mar 18

What are our choices right now and in the future ? Ireland's leading expert on hybrid and electric engines answers some of the key questions.

Ireland's electric and hybrid car expert on what you need to know

Dr. John Hayes of UCC is a world authority on hybrid and electric cars. He's just written a book on the subject amd he's been talking to our Motoring Editor, Donal Byrne about what choices people should be looking at and what the future holds.

Motors • 11 Feb 18

Electric Cars