Fewer people considering electric vehicles
Date published:
New official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department for Infrastructure present attitudes towards electric vehicles in Northern Ireland for the 2024/25 financial year.
Key findings
- Current ownership remains low. Just 5% of respondents currently own an electric vehicle, while 95% have never owned one.
- Purchase intentions decline. Almost one-fifth of respondents (19%) would 'definitely' or 'strongly consider' buying an electric vehicle as their next purchase, down from 25% in 2023/24.
- Short-term adoption plans. Of those considering an electric vehicle, 24% intend to purchase within the next two years, while 54% plan to do so within two to five years.
- Younger drivers show greater interest. A higher proportion of respondents aged 16 to 24 (29%) said they would consider an electric vehicle compared with just 12% of those aged 65 and over.
- Regional variation. Urban residents (21%) were more likely than rural residents (16%) to consider purchasing an electric vehicle.
- Purchase price remains the main barrier. Three-quarters of respondents (75%) cited purchase price as a discouraging factor, followed by concerns about needing to recharge (54%) and availability of charging points (44%).
- Financial incentives matter most. A grant towards purchasing an electric vehicle (46%) was the most frequently cited reason that would encourage purchase, followed by low overall running costs (44%).
- Charging infrastructure awareness. Two-thirds of respondents (66%) believe they are within five miles of the nearest public charging point.
About the publication
The full report presents detailed findings from the 2024/25 Continuous Household Survey on attitudes towards electric vehicles in Northern Ireland. The survey was commissioned to support the Department for Infrastructure's contribution to achieving net zero by decarbonising transport, as required under the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Further information
Read the full report: Attitudes towards electric vehicles in Northern Ireland 2024/2025 – Findings from the Continuous Household Survey
View data tables and background information: Attitudes towards electric vehicles in Northern Ireland 2024/25