Irish EV buyers want warranties, not green credentials, DoneDeal Cars survey finds
But the survey — fielded among 792 clean responses between 7 August and 7 September 2026 — finds that once a buyer sits down to actually pick a car, an entirely different factor takes over: battery health. For those shopping new, that means demanding a manufacturer warranty on the battery above everything else. For the growing number considering a used EV, it means wanting hard proof — a health report, a warranty, a service history — before they'll trust one enough to buy it.
Interest in switching is high: 75% of respondents describe themselves as interested or very interested in going electric. Confidence isn't keeping pace, though. The average buyer rates their own ability to choose the right EV today at just 57 out of 100, and battery uncertainty is the main reason why.
What is driving Irish interest in EVs?
Cost, overwhelmingly, is the reason Irish drivers are considering an EV. 61% cite lower running costs as their primary motivation, dwarfing the 12% who point to environmental reasons. Concern about petrol and diesel prices — not climate policy — is what's pulling people toward electric cars.
What builds confidence for new EV buyers?
A manufacturer warranty covering the battery is what makes new EV buyers feel confident, cited by 88% of respondents — nearly three times the next most-cited factor. Here's the full breakdown of what builds confidence when buying a new EV:
- Manufacturer warranty covering the battery — 88%
- Clear running-cost comparison versus petrol/diesel — 35%
- Reviews from experts — 34%
- Reviews from other drivers — 33%
- A longer test drive or try-before-you-buy option — 30%
What worries new EV buyers most?
Driving range on a single charge is the single biggest concern for new EV buyers, cited by 71% of respondents. Battery lifespan over years of ownership follows at 42%, with purchase price versus petrol or diesel well behind at 19%. New buyers are far more anxious about whether the car will do the job day-to-day than about what it costs up front.
Why is the used EV market growing in Ireland?
More than half of Irish EV intenders — 54% — say they'd buy their next EV used rather than new, and DoneDeal Cars is already the most-used source for car-buying research among this group, cited by 63% of respondents. That puts DoneDeal ahead of friends and family (37%), the nearest rival website (36%) and manufacturer or dealer websites (33%).
That growth comes with real anxiety, though: 69% of respondents say they'd be somewhat or very worried about overpaying on a used EV, and just 3% say they wouldn't be worried at all.
What do used EV buyers need to feel confident?
81% of used EV buyers say battery health and remaining capacity is their top concern, and battery health is what fixes that concern too — not price negotiation. The top three factors that build confidence buying used are:
- A battery health report — 65%
- Remaining manufacturer battery warranty — 60%
- A full service history — 55%
Separately, 89% of respondents say it's important, very important or extremely important that a used EV listed by a dealer comes with a battery State of Health (SOH) report — only 3% say it doesn't matter.
On warranty length specifically, 48% want at least a one-year dealer warranty, and a combined 43% want two years or more. Just 1% would accept as little as three months.
What would make more Irish drivers switch to electric?
Price and government support remain the biggest levers. Half of respondents (50%) say a higher government grant or incentive would be the top driver in moving them toward an EV, ahead of a stronger battery warranty or health guarantee (39%), lower purchase prices (37%) and longer driving range (36%).
Which EV brands are Irish buyers considering?
Volkswagen leads the EV consideration set at 48%, followed by Toyota (41%), Skoda (32%) and Hyundai (32%). BYD, at 31%, is the highest-placed non-legacy brand — already ahead of established players including Audi, Volvo, BMW and Tesla. When forced to name a single most-likely brand, Toyota comes out on top, followed by BYD, Kia, Volkswagen, Skoda, Volvo and Hyundai.
What DoneDeal Cars says about the findings
"We have learned a lot about the intentions of new and used EV buyers from this. New EV buyers want a long battery warranty, and when it comes to used EVs it is also about the battery and what state it is in. A clear battery health report, a real warranty and a full service history will do more to convert interest into sales than another round of price cuts. That's exactly why we built our Trusted Dealer Programme around verified history and warranty information, and why we'd encourage every dealer selling a used EV to make battery health part of the listing, not an afterthought."
FAQs
What is a battery State of Health (SOH) report?
A battery State of Health report measures how much of an EV's original battery capacity remains, typically expressed as a percentage. It's the clearest way to check degradation on a used EV, and 89% of Irish buyers surveyed say it's important or better that a dealer-listed used EV comes with one.
Is it better to buy a new or used EV in Ireland right now?
It depends on budget and risk tolerance. New EV buyers get a manufacturer battery warranty as standard, which 88% of survey respondents say is their biggest confidence factor. Used EV buyers can get similar reassurance by insisting on a battery health report, remaining manufacturer warranty and a full service history — the three factors 65%, 60% and 55% of used buyers respectively say would make them confident to buy.
How long should a used EV's battery warranty be?
Most Irish buyers want meaningful cover: 48% want at least a one-year dealer warranty, and a combined 43% want two years or more. Only 1% would accept as little as three months, so a short or absent warranty is likely to put off the majority of used EV shoppers.
Why are Irish drivers more worried about running costs than the environment?
Survey respondents cite lower running costs as their main reason for considering an EV by a wide margin — 61% versus just 12% who cite environmental impact. With fuel and motor tax costs a constant pressure on Irish households, the financial case is doing far more to shift behaviour than climate messaging.
What's the biggest concern for someone buying a new EV?
Driving range on a single charge, cited by 71% of new EV buyers — well ahead of battery lifespan (42%) and purchase price versus petrol or diesel (19%). Range anxiety remains the dominant psychological barrier to going electric, even as real-world ranges have improved.
Which EV brands are Irish buyers most likely to choose?
Volkswagen, Toyota, Skoda and Hyundai lead the consideration set, with BYD the highest-placed non-legacy brand at 31% — already ahead of Audi, Volvo, BMW and Tesla. When asked to pick just one likely brand, Toyota comes out on top.