Both domestic tourists and overseas visitors essentially have two ways of getting around Ireland – by car and by public transport. For most people, including tourists who wish to discover some of Ireland’s hidden gems, driving is the most convenient way of getting from A to B.

Luckily, eco-conscious holidaymakers now have the option of renting an electric car in many towns and cities. 

And because they produce zero tailpipe emissions, EVs are much less taxing on the environment than renting a petrol or diesel powered car. 

There are other benefits too, including cost; however, whether renting an electric car is right for you ultimately depends on how you plan to travel, and the number of people in your party.

Is it worth renting an electric car in Ireland?

It is definitely worth considering an electric car if you wish to rent a vehicle to travel around Ireland. But whether it is the right choice for you really depends on your specific preferences and requirements.

For example, a family of 4 who wish to travel around the country for two weeks may decide that renting an electric car for the duration of their stay is not only super convenient and environmentally friendly, but also much more cost-effective compared to relying on public transport.

For a solo traveller, who arrives in Dublin and wishes to spend a week in Galway city without any desire to explore, taking the bus or train is practical and much cheaper than unnecessarily renting a car for a full week. 

In this scenario, it might be worth checking out something like GoCar’s GoElectric model – which allows people to rent a car on an hourly basis.

How do you rent an electric car in Ireland?

So you have decided that you want to rent an electric car, but don’t know where to start? While petrol and diesel cars are still much more prevalent, it has never been easier to rent an electric vehicle in Ireland. 

Many rental companies now have an electric vehicle or a number of EVs in their fleet, which are available for hire for the duration of your stay. 

How you go about renting an EV is the same as any other car – you can simply show up at a car rental, or phone ahead, and request a car for hire for your desired dates. 

Cars are typically rented out in 24 hour periods and returned to the same location where it was picked up. The rental service will require a valid driving licence before giving you the keys.

The Pros and Cons of renting an electric car

Electric Car Charging Infrastructure in Ireland

While it is true that the network of public electric vehicle charge points is not where it should be to encourage electric car adoption in Ireland, there are still over 2,500 public charging stations you can avail of, dotted across the country, according to the SEAI. 

What this means is that if you’re renting an EV, you will need to plan your trip a little more carefully than if you were renting a fossil fuel powered car or a hybrid.

With a bit of planning, however, and using one of the many EV charging station maps available online, you can avoid range anxiety almost entirely. Planning is especially recommended if you are travelling to more rural locations, as the number of charging stations may be more limited. 

With the right plan of attack, you can rent an electric car and have it adequately charged throughout your trip to Ireland without much hassle.