The number of electric vehicles registered so far this year in Ireland has jumped 65pc compared to the corresponding period in 2022.

New figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show 18,458 electric vehicles were registered in the first seven months of 2023, compared to 11,175 in the first seven months of 2022.

Of the 27,148 new cars registered in July this year, 4,161 were electric.

SIMI said that the total number of new cars registered last month was 24pc higher than in July last year.

The total number of car registrations so far this year, at 104,641, is 20pc higher than in the corresponding period last year.

The figures from SIMI also show that new commercial vehicle registrations jumped as the economy continued to perform well.

The number of new light commercial vehicles registered last month rose 42pc year-on-year to 5,664, while new heavy goods vehicle registrations climbed almost 28pc to 374.

Total light commercial vehicle registrations are up 35pc so far this year at just under 23,000. Heavy goods vehicle registrations are up a third, at 1,927.

Brian Cooke, SIMI’s director general, said that improved car production over the past number of months has helped supply to catch up with demand.

That helped push last month’s car sales almost to the level of January’s sales, the key selling month for the industry.

He said the new car market in the year to date is 20pc ahead of 2022 and less than 1pc behind the pre-Covid level in 2019.

“The highlight of the market continues to be the performance of electric cars, with sales in July of 4,161, a record monthly total for electric vehicles.”

Mr Cooke said that improved supply and a greater range of new models available for motorists has supported the momentum behind electric vehicle sales.

He added that government grants also lifted sales numbers and that retention beyond this year “is vital”.

The best-selling car so far in Ireland this year is the Hyundai Tucson, with the Kia Sportage in second place.

The top-selling electric car brands so far in 2023 are Volkswagen, Tesla, Hyundai, Kia and MG. In the year to date, petrol-powered cars accounted for 32pc of sales, diesel 22pc, petrol electric hybrid 18pc, electric 18pc and petrol plug-in electric hybrid just under 8pc.

Reporting on: www.independent.ie