Waterford has been named one of the best places in Ireland to own an electric vehicle, ranking third nationwide in a new study highlighting the country’s most EV-friendly counties.

The research, carried out by insurance comparison site Chill Insurance, analysed factors such as the number of registered electric vehicles, the availability of public charging stations, and access to EV dealerships. Waterford performed strongly across all categories, placing just behind Westmeath and Carlow in the national rankings.

According to the study, Waterford is home to 494 registered electric vehicles, supported by 14 public charging points and 26 dealerships offering electric models. This balance of infrastructure and accessibility means local drivers have better support than most other counties when it comes to switching to electric.

Drew McGowan from Chill Insurance said the results underline the county’s growing focus on sustainable transport.

“Waterford stands out for its healthy balance between EV ownership and access to dealerships,” he said. “With more than two dozen dealerships offering electric options and an increasing number of chargers, it’s a very promising environment for anyone considering the switch to electric.”

The study comes as Ireland continues to accelerate its transition toward greener transport, supported by the Government’s decision in the recent Budget to extend the €5,000 Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) relief for electric vehicles for another year.

Waterford’s third-place ranking puts it ahead of larger and more urbanised counties such as Dublin and Kildare. The report notes that while counties like Westmeath and Carlow lead the list due to higher EV infrastructure relative to population size, Waterford’s strong dealership network and steady growth in EV ownership make it one of the most supportive environments for drivers making the switch.

The findings also show that Waterford continues to play an important role in driving electric vehicle adoption across the southeast. The availability of local dealerships and public chargers not only benefits residents but also supports visitors travelling through the region using electric cars.

Nationally, electric vehicle ownership is on the rise, supported by SEAI purchase grants of up to €3,500 and home-charging subsidies of €600. The Government’s long-term goal is to have nearly one million EVs on Irish roads by 2030.

However, the Chill Insurance study highlights that access to infrastructure still varies significantly between counties. While Waterford, Westmeath and Carlow rank highly for EV readiness, counties such as Leitrim, Longford and Clare remain at the bottom of the index, with far fewer public chargers and dealerships available.

The research also looked at the cost of insuring electric vehicles, finding that the Hyundai Ioniq EV Premium is the cheapest model to insure, with an average annual premium of €488. In contrast, Tesla models were found to be the most expensive, averaging more than €750 per year.

For those interested in exploring the full national picture, the complete study — The Irish EV Index — is available on the Chill Insurance website.

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