Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

284 Chapter 11: Environment and Transport Figure 11.3  Car sales by fuel type, 2012–2022 ˜ Diesel ˜ Petrol ˜ Petrol electric (hybrid) ˜ Electric ˜ Diesel electric (hybrid) ˜ Petrol/plug-in electric hybrid ˜ Diesel/plug-in electric hybrid 2022 2021 2020 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2014 2013 2012 Year 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000 Car sales Source: Compiled from Society of Irish Motor Industry 2023 data Figure 11.4  Share of SUVs in new car sales, 2012–2022 ˜ Large SUV ˜ Medium SUV ˜ Small SUV ˜ All non-SUV cars Year Car Sales 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000 2022 2021 2020 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2014 2013 2012 Source: Compiled from Society of Irish Motor Industry 2023 data SUVs are characterised by higher fuel consumption because their weight is usually greater than that of standard cars. In 2012, these vehicles made up 16% of new private vehicle sales, and that figure grew to 59% in 2022. In 2022, 15% of all new car sales were fully battery electric (Figure 11.3). In 2022, there were approximately 72,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric cars, which was approximately 37% of the Climate Action Plan target for 2025. By the end of 2023, this number had increased to over 121,000 electric vehicles (EVs), accounting for 62% of the Climate Action Plan target for 2025.