Are you thinking of making the switch to electric but not sure where to start? Looking to find out more about the best small electric cars on the market right now in Ireland?
In this article, I’ve put together a list of some of my favourite small electric cars available in Ireland in 2023. I’ve included key points like the battery, range and an indication of the price of the car.
Why Electric?
Bear in mind that electric small cars are still more expensive to buy than their petrol or hybrid counterparts, but they are cheaper to run over the long term when you charge at home, with lower energy and maintenance costs.
Zero tailpipe emissions from electric vehicles mean cleaner air for us all, particularly in towns and cities.
The public charging network is growing but it’s advisable to have an electric vehicle charge point installed at home if possible for more convenience and the best rates.
Electric vehicles can be charged at home or using a public charge pointGrants and Incentives for EVs
Before we get started, a few points to note about grants and incentives for buying a battery electric vehicle (BEV) in Ireland in 2023.
- Annual motor tax for battery electric vehicles is €120 per year.
- Under the Low Emissions Vehicle Toll Incentive, owners of battery electric vehicles can avail of reduced tolls on the M50 and other routes.
- The SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) offers a grant for buying a new passenger car electric vehicle in Ireland of up to €3,500 when purchased privately. Approved EVs with a full price of more than €60,000 and less than €14,000 are not eligible for a grant. The grant amount depend on the list price of the vehicle. More information here on the SEAI website.
- The Home Charger Grant offers up to €600 towards purchase/installation costs of an electric vehicle charging point at home.
- EVs get VRT relief separate to SEAI grant support, typically reflected in the vehicle price displayed by a dealer. The VRT relief depends on the full cost of the vehicle. For more information on VRT, visit the Revenue website.
Best Small Electric Cars
Listed below are some of the best electric city cars and superminis on the market in Ireland in 2023. Please note I have included the WLTP range, which is an industry standard for the measurement of range driving on battery power. The WLTP measurement is good for comparing vehicles but expect the range to be less in real world driving due to factors such as your speed, driving style and weather conditions.
Price given below includes SEAI grant and VRT relief. Always check the manufacturer’s website for the most up to date pricing for Ireland.
The new Peugeot e-208 is a stylish small electric car1. PEUGEOT E-208
Peugeot launched the new 208 range in Ireland in 2020, along with the first ever electric version of the famous French supermini – the new Peugeot e-208. The beauty of the e-208 is that it shares pretty much everything with the rest of the 208 range. So what you get is a very stylish small car, with a beautiful interior finish and cool digital technology provided by Peugeot’s unique i-Cockpit. The current e-208 uses a 50kWh battery that produces 136hp and can drive electric for up to 340 km (WLTP). With a 7 kW wallbox installed at home it will take about 7.5 hours to charge the e-208. Rapid DC charging is also possible using the standard CCS adaptor. Charging at the maximum 100 kW, the e-208 can be 80% charged in 30 minutes. In Ireland the e-208 is available in three trim levels offering varying levels of style and equipment. If you hold out until 2024, you’ll be able to get your hands on an updated e-208 with refreshed styling, new battery and up to 400 km of electric driving.
Battery: 50 kWh
Range: Up to 340 km (WLTP)
Power: 136 hp
Price: From €33,500
The Opel Corsa-e offers a simple introduction to electric motoring2. OPEL CORSA-E
The Opel Corsa-e shares its 50kWh battery and much of its engineering with the Peugeot e-208. The styling and interior design is plainer and more conventional, which may be appealing to some buyers. In Ireland, Opel sells the Corsa-e in the Elite trim only, which has a high specification and upscale look. The 50kWh battery produces 136hp and can drive electric for up to 337 km (WLTP). It will take just over 7 hours to charge the Corsa-e at home with a 7 kW wallbox. Rapid DC charging is also possible using the standard CCS adaptor. Charging at the maximum 100 kW, the Corsa-e can be 80% charged in 30 minutes. A new Corsa Electric is expected in Ireland in early 2024. It will get Opel’s new distinct ‘Vizor’ face and a new battery with a range of up to 410 km.
Battery: 50 kWh
Range: Up to 337 km (WLTP)
Power: 136 hp
Price: From €34,818
The Renault Zoe is a well established small electric car in Ireland3. RENAULT ZOE
The Renault Zoe is well-established in Ireland, having been sold here since 2014. It’s come a long way since then though it’s not the bargain it once was. The latest version launched in Ireland in 2020. It’s sold with a 52kWh battery, which gives a range of 395km (WLTP). The Zoe’s secret sauce is its special Chameleon charger, which means Zoe can accept the maximum power rate from any charger up to 22kW, so you can charge faster in town for example at one of the more plentiful 22kW public charge points. All but the very entry model now come with a CCS adaptor, allowing 50kW DC fast charging for the first time. It will take about 45 minutes to get 80% battery power charging like this, 7 hours for a full charge with a 7kW wallbox at home, or just 2.3 hours at a 22kW charge point. It’s sold in three trim levels in Ireland. Bear in mind, the new Renault 5 will arrive in 2024 and effectively replace the Zoe as Renault’s small electric car.
Battery: 52 kWh
Range: Up to 395 km (WLTP)
Power: 135 hp
Price: €36,899
The MINI Electric is the most fun to drive small electric car4. MINI ELECTRIC
The MINI Electric launched in Ireland in 2020, starting a new chapter for the famous 3-door hatchback. The MINI Electric uses a smaller capacity battery than some of its rivals, giving a range of 233km (WLTP). It is more powerful however and easily the most fun to drive small electric car. It’s expensive to buy and the range does limit its appeal so it’s best thought of as a second car or a city car. It’s also not the most practical small car! But because it’s a MINI it’s still utterly desirable for its iconic good looks and high quality, quirky interior. 50 kW DC fast charging is possible, giving 80% charge in 36 minutes. It can get a full charge at home in just over 4 hours in 7.4 kW AC charging from a wallbox.
Battery: 32.6 kWh
Range: Up to 233 km (WLTP)
Power: 184 hp
Price: From €39,985
The Fiat 500e is the electric version of the classic Italian city car5. FIAT 500E
The famous Fiat 500 goes electric for the first time. The new Fiat 500e is available with the choice of two batteries. It’s the most affordable small electric car in the market with the 23.8kWh battery – but it offers a range of just 180km (WLTP), which seems very limiting unless the car is purely for city driving. Of more interest is the Fiat 500e 42kWh with a range of up to 320km (WLTP). Based on the classic Italian city car, the Fiat 500e is one of the smallest cars in this company. But the modern 500 is a bit of an icon already, and the 500e is a fun and chic small electric car. It’s also available as a convertible. The new Fiat 500e can fast charge at 85 kW, charging to 80% in 35 minutes. It will take about 6 hours to charge to full at home from a 7kW wallbox.
Battery: 23.8 kWh / 42 kWh
Range: Up to 180 km (WLTP) / 320 km (WLTP)
Power: 95 hp / 118 hp
Price: From €27,995 / €31,995
The Honda e is an upmarket small electric car6. HONDA E
The Honda e debuted in Ireland in 2020, the brand’s first electric model to go on sale here. It shines for its futuristic design and technology, with a high class interior that really stands out for next generation digital technology. The Honda e uses a 35.5 kWh battery putting out 136hp, or 154hp in the Advance model. A range of 220 km (WLTP) limits the Honda’s appeal beyond urban environments, but it has been specifically designed for the city and it makes sense when you look at it. Because it is tiny! Fast charging at 50 kW is available through a CCS charging adapter with the opportunity to add 80% of charge in 30 minutes. From a 7.4 kW wallbox at home, the Honda e will charge to full in just over four hours.
Battery: 35.5 kWh
Range: 220 km (WLTP)
Power: 136 hp
Price: From €29,995
The Volkswagen e-Up is now on sale in Ireland7. VOLKSWAGEN E-UP
The electric version of the VolkswagenUp has been on sale in Europe for a number of years but has only arrived in Ireland for the first time in 2023 due to rising consumer interest in electric cars. The e-Up uses a 32kWh battery with a range of up to 253 km (WLTP). Doesn’t sound like much but the e-Up is surprisingly efficient. There’s also a CCS port for DC fast charging and it will take just 5.5 hours to get a full charge from a 7.4kW wallbox. For a city car, it’s surprisingly roomy and stands out for its solid build and quality feel.
Battery: 32 kWh
Range: 253 km (WLTP)
Power: 82 hp
Price: From €27,813
Useful Links and Resources
Low Emissions Vehicle Toll Incentive
Find out more about how much money you can save on tolls with an electric vehicle.
The SEAI has a huge amount of useful information about buying an electric vehicle, including owner’s stories, grants, and a running costs calculator.
Find out more about charging your electric vehicle in Ireland using the ESB public charging network, including the types of charger available and their location.
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Written by Caroline Kidd
Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year