From a weather and geography standpoint, Ireland is an excellent country for an electric vehicle (EV) takeoff. It is a small island; there is partial national ownership of electrical supply; the climate is relatively mild; and the landscape is EV friendly (there is no major mountain pass or tough terrain through which people must cross). Additionally, the distances between the major urban centres are short. Dublin to Cork, the longest, is only 259km.
So, if it’s not the terrain or weather conditions that is impeding the uptake of EVs, what is it? One potential answer is the rather extreme disparity in population and access to EV infrastructure that exists between urban centres and rural communities. Primarily, the disparity exists between Dublin and the rest of Ireland.
Although not everyone may agree, Dublin is virtually the centre of everything in Ireland from population, to employment and investment. This type of concentrated hub of investment and resources at first best suited the early EV models that had a shorter driving range more appropriate for people living in an urban environment and travelling shorter distances than their rural counterparts.
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