The AA Car Insurance survey of over 3,000 motorists showed that 9.39% were "very likely" to consider purchasing an electric or hybrid vehicle when buying their next car and a further 19.84% described themselves as "somewhat likely" to consider moving away from a petrol or diesel powered vehicle.
Cars like the Toyota Yaris hybrid are becoming more popular.
The AA's Commercial Director for Ireland, John Farrell, said that in a relatively short period of time there had been significant improvements in the electric and hybrid vehicles, especially in terms of reduced charging times, improved range, and their being more affordable to the average motorist.
"In terms of the future of motoring, electric vehicles will move away from being somewhat of a niche vehicle and will become an increasingly common sight on our roads. Our technicians are already attending to electric car breakdowns and, with these vehicles likely to become more and more popular in the coming years, we’re continuing to invest in the technology needed to attend to electric car breakdowns."
In the survey, the absence of charging facilities, first day cost and concerns about the effective range of fully electric vehicles were among the concerns expressed by those who stated they were more likely to stick with a traditional petrol or diesel powered car when making their next purchase.
54.28% of those unlikely to purchase a hybrid or electric vehicle identified the absence of suitable charging facilities in Ireland currently as the primary reason they were unlikely to make a change. Meanwhile, 45.28% expressed concern over the effective mileage range of fully electric cars, while 43.16% felt that hybrid and electric vehicles are currently too expensive.
"Electric cars aren’t some passing fad and they will very much be a key part of the future of motoring in Ireland. It’s time for our government to accept this fact and facilitate the installation of a greater number of electric vehicle charging points across the country if we are to avoid being left behind while the rest of the world embraces the future," Mr Farrell suggested.
The survey found that men were almost 5% more likely to opt for a hybrid or electric vehicle when purchasing their next car.10.36% of men stated they were very likely to move away from a petrol or diesel vehicle, with a further 21.33% describing themselves as "somewhat likely" to do so, compared to 8.40% and 18.83% of women respectively.
