The sale of electric and hybrid cars in the first eight months of 2020 in Laois is up almost 10%, despite the overall number of cars sold being down.
A total of 155 electric or hybrid cars were sold in Laois up until the end of August according to figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), compared to 141 for the same period in 2019.
That is despite the fact that sales of cars are down considerably due to the Coronavirus restriction.
Across the country new car sales are down almost 30% but the sale of electric and hybrid cars is actuall up by almost 10%.
There have been 14,972 electrics or hybrids sold so far this year, compared to 13,799 a year ago. Compared to five years ago in 2015, when there was just 1,900 sold, there is an almost 700% increase.
The 155 hybrid or electric cars sold in Laois so far in 2020 is almost double what it was in 2018 when 83 were sold. Five years ago in 2015, there was only 14 car sales in those categories.
When looking at the sale of just electric cars, there is still an increase nationally – with 2,956 electrics sold this year compared to 2,859 last year. That compares to just 361 in 2015.
In Laois there have been 24 electric cars sold so far this year, down from the 29 sold in the first eight months of last year but still more than double the 11 that were sold in 2018.
Going back five years, there were just five electric cars sold in the county in 2015.
SEE ALSO – Renault Zoe leading the way as electric cars here to stay
