Louth is fourth best county for EV drivers

New data reveals that Louth stands out as one of Ireland’s strongest-performing counties for electric vehicle adoption, with 690 EVs registered—one of the highest totals outside the main urban centres. Supported by 16 public charging points and 21 EV dealerships, the county ranks fourth overall in Chill Insurance’s national index. When adjusted for population, Louth’s figures highlight a steadily growing EV presence

Electric vehicles are becoming an increasingly practical choice in Ireland, with government plans aiming for nearly one million EVs on the road by 2030. Generous supports, including SEAI purchase grants of up to €3,500 and home-charging subsidies of €600, are helping to lower the cost of switching. 

Yet despite national progress, new research from insurance comparison site Chill Insurance shows that access to infrastructure still varies across counties. They examined EV registrations, the number of public charging points, and dealership availability in every county, adjusted per 10,000 residents to ensure fair comparison. Chill’s internal pricing data was also analysed to reveal which electric vehicles are currently the most affordable to insure.

Westmeath tops the index with 430 registered EVs, supported by 21 public chargers and 26 dealerships. When adjusted for population, this equates to 44.9 EVs, 2.2 chargers and 2.7 dealerships per 10,000 residents, making it the most balanced county for infrastructure.

Carlow also performs well with 205 EVs, 10 chargers and 14 dealerships - translating to strong availability relative to its smaller population. Waterford shows a similar profile, with 494 EVs and 26 dealerships backed by 14 chargers.

Larger counties also feature prominently. Dublin, for example, is home to over 10,800 registered EVs, 116 chargers and 122 dealerships, far exceeding any other county in absolute numbers, however it sits in 5th position due to the lack of infrastructure when adjusted in line with population.

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At the opposite end of the scale, Leitrim records just 55 registered EVs, two public chargers and one dealership, making it the least supportive county for EV ownership. Longford, with only 92 EVs, fares slightly better but still struggles with just six chargers and three dealerships.

Clare’s provision also lags, despite having 418 registered EVs - drivers there must rely on only 12 chargers and nine dealerships. These figures underline the patchwork nature of Ireland’s EV rollout, with drivers in rural and regional areas facing significantly fewer resources compared to those in urban centres.