The Car Rental Council of Ireland has warned that a rapid transition to electric vehicles (EVs) could adversely affect Ireland’s tourism economy due to increased rental costs and reduced availability of cars.
Currently, renting an electric car is on average 33pc more expensive than renting a traditional vehicle.
The EU Commission is considering the introduction of mandatory electric vehicle quotas for corporate fleets by 2035, pressuring rental companies to switch to EVs despite inadequate infrastructure in rural areas.
The council predicts that if the industry is forced to adopt EVs prematurely, it could result in fewer available rental cars at higher prices, ultimately harming both tourism and rural economies.
A board member from the Car Rental Council of Ireland shared, “private motorists have a driveway, tourists do not. The car rental sector will likely convert to EVs after the general fleet has converted, not the other way round. Forcing car rental companies to go electric before Ireland has the necessary infrastructure in place will damage rural tourism.”
