Electric Vehicle Guide: Driving an EV in Ireland

Electric vehicles are increasingly available for rent in Ireland, and the charging infrastructure is growing rapidly. But EV road trips require different planning than traditional cars. Here's everything you need to know.

Ireland's EV Charging Network

Current Infrastructure

• 1,200+ public charging points across Ireland
• 90+ fast chargers (50kW+) capable of 80% charge in ~30 minutes
• Growing rapidly—new chargers added monthly

Main Charging Networks

Geographic Reality

Good coverage:

• Dublin and surrounding counties
• Cork city and suburbs
• Galway city
• Major motorways (M1, M4, M6, M7, M8)
• Main tourist routes

Limited coverage:

• Rural West (parts of Mayo, Galway, Clare)
• Northwest Donegal
• Remote peninsulas
• Mountain areas

For routes like the Wild Atlantic Way or Inishowen 100, careful planning is essential.

Understanding EV Range

Advertised vs Real-World Range

Manufacturer range figures are optimistic. Real-world factors reduce range significantly:

Practical Range Examples

Rule of thumb: Plan for 70% of advertised range in Irish conditions.

Planning Your EV Road Trip

Before You Go

1. Map charging points along your route
2. Identify backup chargers in case primary is occupied/broken
3. Download charging apps (see below)
4. Check charger status is "available" before relying on it
5. Plan meal/activity stops at charging locations

The 80% Rule

• Charge to 80% for fastest charging (last 20% is slow)
• Aim to arrive at chargers with 20%+ remaining
• Never let battery drop below 10% if avoidable

Recommended Apps

For finding chargers:

• ESB EV - Ireland's largest network
• EasyGo - Good coverage, easy payment
• Zap-Map - Comprehensive map of all chargers
• PlugShare - Community reviews and real-time status

For route planning:

• A Better Route Planner (ABRP) - Best EV route planner
• Google Maps - Now shows EV chargers
• Waze - Limited EV features but good navigation

Sample Route Plan: Dublin to Galway (210km)

Without charging stop: Possible in most modern EVs with good range

With charging stop (recommended):

1. Depart Dublin with 100% charge
2. Drive to Athlone (120km) - arrive ~60% battery
3. Fast charge at Athlone (20 mins to 80%)
4. Continue to Galway (90km) - arrive ~50% battery

This provides comfortable buffer and a rest break.

Charging Types Explained

Standard AC Charging (3-22kW)

• Time: 4-8 hours for full charge
• Where: Homes, hotels, car parks, some public points
• Best for: Overnight charging, long stops

Fast DC Charging (50kW)

• Time: 30-45 minutes to 80%
• Where: Service stations, dedicated charging hubs
• Best for: Road trip top-ups

Ultra-Fast DC Charging (100-350kW)

• Time: 15-25 minutes to 80%
• Where: Ionity stations, select locations
• Best for: Quick stops on motorways
• Note: Not all EVs can accept ultra-fast charging

Costs

Public Charging

Cost Comparison: EV vs Petrol

For a 200km journey:

Petrol car (7L/100km at €1.70/L):

• 14 litres × €1.70 = €23.80

EV (18kWh/100km at €0.40/kWh fast charging):

• 36kWh × €0.40 = €14.40

EVs are typically 30-40% cheaper to run, even with fast charging costs.

Renting an EV in Ireland

Availability

EVs are still a small percentage of rental fleets but growing:

• Most major rental companies offer EVs
• Book well in advance—limited stock
• Expect premium pricing (10-30% more than equivalent petrol)
• Tesla available through some specialist providers

What to Ask

1. What's the realistic range?
2. Which charging networks work with the car?
3. Is a charging cable included?
4. Are charging costs included or separate?
5. What happens if I run out of charge?

EV-Specific Rental Tips

• Get a full orientation on charging the specific model
• Test the charging process before leaving the depot
• Save emergency breakdown number—EV recovery is specialized
• Return with agreed charge level (usually 80%)

Route Suggestions for EVs

Easy EV Routes (good charging coverage)

• Dublin Bay & Howth - Short, urban charging available
• Wicklow Mountains - Chargers in Bray, Wicklow town
• Boyne Valley - Flat terrain, motorway chargers nearby

Moderate EV Routes (plan carefully)

• Cork Harbour & Kinsale - Cork has good charging
• Galway Bay & Burren - Galway chargers, limited in Burren
• Causeway Coast - Belfast has chargers, less on coast

Challenging EV Routes (experienced only)

• Dingle Peninsula - Very limited charging
• Connemara Loop - Remote, few chargers
• Donegal Highlands - Sparse infrastructure

For challenging routes, ensure your EV has sufficient range to complete without charging, or have a concrete backup plan.

Troubleshooting

Charger Not Working

Common issues and solutions:

1. App showing "available" but won't start - Try different payment method
2. Cable won't connect - Check you're using correct connector type
3. Charging very slow - May be shared power, try different unit
4. Payment declined - Have backup payment app ready

Running Low on Charge

1. Reduce speed - 80km/h uses significantly less power than 120km/h
2. Turn off heating/AC - Use seat heaters instead
3. Find nearest charger - Even a slow charger helps
4. Call breakdown service - They can transport you to a charger

Breakdown Service

Ensure your rental includes EV-specific breakdown cover. Standard tow trucks can damage EVs if not handled correctly.

Environmental Impact

Driving an EV in Ireland is genuinely greener:

• Ireland's grid is ~40% renewable (and growing)
• EVs produce zero direct emissions
• Even with grid mix, EVs emit ~50% less CO2 than petrol cars

The Future

Ireland has ambitious EV targets:

• 936,000 EVs on roads by 2030
• Major charging infrastructure investment
• New developments require charger installation
• More rental EVs coming to market

Quick Tips

1. Charge overnight when staying at hotels with chargers
2. Top up whenever you see a fast charger on your route
3. Plan B always—have an alternative charger identified
4. Weather affects range—add buffer on cold or wet days
5. Motorways drain batteries—high speed reduces range significantly
6. Regenerative braking is your friend on mountain descents

Related Guides

• Navigation Apps
• Fuel Guide (for comparison)
• Budget Road Trip Tips