ICE2EV Pilot Scheme indicates strong consumer demand for transition to EVs

The ICE2EV Pilot Scheme is now closed for applications, after exceptionally strong interest in the new grant from car dealerships and their customers. The Scheme made a €5,000 grant available to replace internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles aged over 13 years with new battery electric vehicles (EVs), in addition to the existing €3,500 SEAI grant. The initiative

was backed by €10 million in funding from the Climate Action Fund under the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, meaning that 2,000 ICE vehicles will be removed from our roads and replaced by EVs.

The high level of interest reflects growing consumer engagement with the transition to EVs among both rural and urban motorists. This momentum supports Ireland’s Climate Action ambitions, including the target for 30% of the national vehicle fleet to be electric by 2030.

The scheme was administered by SEAI and early figures indicate a spread of demand across all counties, with 65% of the allocated funding ringfenced for rural areas. Applications shows a predominance of older vehicles (with most scrapped cars aged 16 years or more), and good uptake among smaller EV and lower-cost models, suggesting the scheme is meeting its key objectives.

Officials from the SEAI, as scheme administrators, will work closely with Department of Transport officials to review and evaluate the pilot. Findings will inform potential future policy or programme design.

The existing SEAI EV purchase grant of €3,500 remains available to all private customers and continues to see strong growth. An additional €37 million was allocated from the Climate Action Fund to support the high level of demand in 2026, including vehicles purchased through the scrappage scheme.