After half a decade behind the wheel of an electric car, many Irish owners reflect on the highs, the headaches, and whether they’d choose the same path again. Here’s what they say.
Voices from the Road: EV Owners Speak Out
The Irish Times surveyed readers with at least five years of EV ownership. Some said they would “switch back to petrol or diesel” — citing frustrations with infrastructure, access and policy.
Common complaints included the scarcity of public chargers, especially for those without off-street parking, long waits at congested hubs, and slow speeds at rural or under-powered sites.
What’s Working (and What’s Not)
- Home charging advantage: Owners with driveways or access to home chargers cite consistent convenience and lower costs.
- Public charging gaps: In urban streets without dedicated EV access, many owners said they had trouble securing charging access.
- Queue frustration: Some reported needing to charge late at night or plan around peak demand times.
- Policy mismatch: One reader said they couldn’t convert their front garden to a driveway due to protected structure status — limiting their charging options.
Why Some Are Considering the Switch Back
For a subset of owners, the promise of EVs hasn’t quite matched day-to-day reality. Issues include:
- Unreliable or limited public charging in their region.
- Insufficient power at local chargers causing long charge times.
- Policy or planning constraints preventing home charger installation.
- Perceived value loss and resale uncertainty over time.
Why Most Stick With Electric
Despite the gripes, a strong majority of Irish EV owners remain committed to staying electric. In a recent survey, 60% said they “love their EV” and have no plans to return to petrol or diesel. A further 25% admitted the switch took adjustment but still plan to stay electric, while only 2% said they intend to go back.
This suggests that while the journey has bumps, many motorists see long-term upside in running costs, environmental benefits and vehicle experience.
How ONEEV Supports Long-Term EV Ownership
At ONEEV, we design for the 5-, 10- and 15-year EV owner — not just the day you drive off the lot. Our app helps by:
- Charging confidence: Showing live charger status across networks, so you don’t arrive to a blocked or out-of-order unit.
- Flexible access: In-app access to multiple networks via roaming, so your charger options expand over time.
- Usage insights: View your costs, patterns and battery health over months and years.
Want to dig deeper into battery longevity? Head to our Insights section for expert guides.
Owner Tips After 5+ Years
- Charge early, not late: Avoid waiting for a full battery if you don’t need it — that eases congestion on busy stations.
- Monitor battery health: Use apps or onboard diagnostics to track capacity loss over time.
- Plan backup routes: Identify alternate chargers around your regular routes in case your preferred spot is full.
- Advocate locally: Share feedback with your local council or EV associations about charger demand in your area.
FAQs
Do many Irish EV owners regret their decision?
Only a small minority say they’d return to petrol. Most cite infrastructure limitations rather than disapproval of EVs themselves.
Is battery degradation a major issue after 5 years?
Batteries do lose capacity over time, but most modern EVs come with warranties covering long durations (around 8 years or 100,000+ km). Users report gradual loss, not catastrophic failure.
Should I avoid buying an EV unless I have a driveway?
It’s easier with home charging access, but networks are expanding. Using apps that support roaming and checking charger coverage can mitigate challenges.
