The popularity of EV cars in Ireland is booming. More and more people are making the switch to electric, drawn in by the promise of cheaper-to-run, cleaner, and quieter vehicles. But recently, you may have seen some worrying headlines.
A new report has highlighted that Irish EV owners are paying some of the highest electricity prices in all of Europe.
This has left many current and potential EV owners asking the same question: Is it still worth it?
The short answer is yes, absolutely—but only if you charge your car the smart way.
The high prices you’ve read about are real, but they are also avoidable. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly why EV charging in Ireland is so expensive and give you a simple, actionable plan to cut your running costs and still save a fortune compared to petrol or diesel.
The “Shocking” Truth About EV Charging Costs in Ireland
Let’s not hide from the bad news. A recent analysis from the popular car marketplace DoneDeal Cars put the numbers in black and white. Their research found that Irish EV owners are paying significantly more for their electricity than most of their European neighbours.
Here are the key findings from the report:
- The Annual Cost: Charging a typical family-sized EV (like a Volkswagen ID.4) at home costs an estimated €1,132 per year in Ireland.
- The European Gap: This is a huge jump compared to other countries. The same charge costs €398 less in Spain and €230 less in the UK.
- The Root Cause: The problem isn’t just with EVs. The report notes that Ireland has the highest household electricity prices in the entire EU, averaging around €0.45 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
These numbers are scary. If you just bought one of the many new EV cars in Ireland and plugged it into your standard wall socket, you might be in for a nasty bill. But these figures only tell one side of the story. They represent the worst-case scenario—not the reality for smart EV owners.
Why is EV Power in Ireland So Expensive?
To understand how to get cheap EV charging in Ireland, you first need to understand why our prices are high in the first place. It comes down to three main reasons.
- We Are an “Energy Island” Unlike mainland European countries that can easily buy and sell power to their neighbours, Ireland’s grid is mostly isolated. This lack of interconnection means we can’t import cheap electricity when our own supply is low, and it makes our grid more expensive to manage.
- We Rely on Expensive Gas A large portion of Ireland’s electricity is generated by burning imported natural gas. As you’ve seen from home heating bills, the price of gas has been extremely volatile and high. Since the price of gas often sets the price of all electricity, our bills go up.
- A Spread-Out Population Ireland has a small population spread across a large rural area. This means we have a vast electricity network of poles and wires that needs to be maintained, but fewer people to pay for it. These “network charges” make up a significant chunk of every electricity bill.
These three factors combine to give Ireland very expensive “standard” electricity. But for EV owners, there is a way to bypass this problem completely.
How to Beat the High Prices: A Simple Guide to Cheap EV Charging in Ireland
This is the most important section of this article. Just because the average price of EV power in Ireland is high doesn’t mean you have to pay it.
Here is how smart EV owners cut their charging costs by as much as 80%.
1. The #1 Secret: Switch to a Smart EV Tariff
This is the single biggest money-saver. If you charge your EV on a standard 24-hour electricity plan, you will pay the high €0.45/kWh rate. This is a mistake.
You must switch to a “Time of Use” or “Smart EV” tariff.
Energy suppliers like Pinergy, SSE Airtricity, and Energia offer special plans for EV owners. These plans use your smart meter to give you a super-cheap electricity rate during off-peak hours, usually between 2 AM and 5 AM.
Let’s look at the difference this makes.
- Standard Rate Charging: A full charge on a 60kWh battery at €0.45/kWh costs around €27.
- Smart EV Tariff Charging: The same charge at a cheap night rate of €0.08/kWh costs just €4.80.
By simply switching your plan and setting your car to charge overnight, you can save over €22 on a single charge. This one change alone completely wipes out the high costs mentioned in the DoneDeal report.
2. Get a Grant for Your Own Home Charger
The cheapest, safest, and most convenient way to charge is at home. While you can use a regular 3-pin socket, it’s incredibly slow.
Installing a dedicated home charger is the best solution. And thanks to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), you can get a grant to help pay for it.
The SEAI Home Charger Grant provides up to €300 towards the cost of buying and installing a home charger. This grant makes the decision easy, cutting the installation cost significantly. A home charger allows you to get a full battery every single night, safely and efficiently, all while using those super-cheap night rates.
3. Let a “Smart Charger” Do All the Work for You
A “smart charger” (from brands like Ohme or Zappi) takes this to the next level. You can connect it to your EV tariff, and it will automatically do the work for you.
You simply plug your car in when you get home at 6 PM and tell the app you need the car to be full by 7 AM. The smart charger will then wait until the cheap electricity window (e.g., 2 AM) to start charging. You don’t have to set timers or remember to do anything. It’s fully automatic savings.
The Final Verdict: Are EV Cars in Ireland Still Worth It?
Let’s go back to our original question. Looking at the scary headlines, you might think you’ve made a mistake.
But the answer is a clear and simple: Yes, EV cars in Ireland are still one of the best financial decisions you can make.
Why?
- They Are Still Massively Cheaper Than Petrol: The very same DoneDeal report that highlighted the high average electricity cost also pointed out that EV owners still save around €768 per year compared to running an equivalent petrol car.
- The Savings Are Even Bigger Than That: That €768 saving is based on the high, average electricity price. If you follow the steps in this guide and charge on a smart EV tariff, your savings will be well over €1,000 per year.
- The Upfront Cost is Lower: Don’t forget the SEAI purchase grant, which gives you up to €3,500 off the price of a new fully electric vehicle.
In summary: The headlines about high EV power in Ireland are only true for people who don’t take action. The high price is a choice, not a fact of life.
By getting a home charger, taking the €300 SEAI grant, and—most importantly—switching to a smart EV night tariff, you can run your electric car for a fraction of the cost of petrol.
Source: rte.ie
I’m a tech-savvy writer and passionate software engineer who loves exploring the intersection of technology and creativity. Whether it’s building efficient systems or breaking down complex tech topics into simple words, I enjoy making technology accessible and useful for everyone.