City Council leads in electric vehicle adoption

Cork City Council is once again leading the way in electric vehicle (EV) adoption among Ireland’s local authorities.

A new national study from Geotab, the research by transport technology company, shows that one in four vehicles in Cork City Council’s fleet is now electric. Out of 321 vehicles, 80 are fully electric—more than any other council in terms of percentage.

“By electrifying one in four of its fleet vehicles, Cork has set the national benchmark for councils across the country and proven the viability of EV adoption at scale in the public sector,” said Geotab Sales Manager, Ireland & UK, Oliver Holt.

This marks the second year Cork city has topped the national ranking for EV transition.

While Cork city leads, most councils are still slow to make the switch. Only six of the country’s 31 local authorities have electrified more than 8% of their fleets. Over two-thirds remain below 5%.

Fingal County Council follows Cork city closely, with 86 electric vehicles out of 357 (24%). Galway City Council also performed well with 20 EVs in a fleet of 83.

Meanwhile, Cork County Council has made modest progress, with just 10 EVs out of a fleet of 769—about 1%. However, it is performing strongly in other areas. The council has equipped 681 vehicles, or 89% of its fleet, with telematics technology. This places Cork county among the top performers for smart fleet management, a tool that helps reduce fuel use and carbon emissions.

Despite the slow national progress, there are signs of change. Several councils reported that new EVs are on the way or that fleet upgrades are planned.

Transport made up 21% of all local authority energy use and 26% of emissions in 2020. Yet only 4% of energy-saving projects have targeted transport so far. With a national target to reach net zero by 2050, public sector fleets must move faster.

Cost is a barrier. Geotab reported earlier that switching from petrol or diesel to electric could save about €12,900 per vehicle over seven years.

The good news is that councils are using more smart technology to cut emissions. Telematics, which tracks vehicle performance and fuel use, is now used in over 60% of fleets in 16 local authorities. Donegal, Longford, and Wexford County Councils all use telematics across their entire fleets.

By combining smart tools like telematics with further EV investment, councils can cut both emissions and costs—just as Cork City and Cork County Councils have each demonstrated in their own way.