Spatial scenarios of potential electric vehicle adopters in Ireland

The Climate Action Plan 2021 (CAP 2021) lays out plans for electrification of transport to reduce transport emissions in Ireland. Transitioning the passenger car fleet from Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) to Electric Vehicles (EV) is one such measure. However, there is broad scepticism about achieving ambitious targets related to transport due to low EV adoption rates. Fear of running out of power (range anxiety), lack of public charging infrastructure, and lack of awareness of existing EV technology are cited as some of the main reasons for the non-adoption of EVs. To investigate these concerns, we use data on commuting behaviour to identify candidates that could comfortably satisfy weekly driving needs using an EV without the need to alter behaviour for EV charging purposes. We identify hotspots of potential EV adopters in Ireland and quantify potential environmental gains from the adoption. We also study the coverage of the existing public charging network.