Do affordable EVs exist in Ireland

@[Deleted User] - "Where can you get an EV for mid 20's with 400 Km range ? or luxury EV for mid 30's ?"

Kona 64kWh for around €25k-30k. Tesla Model S from about €33-35k

Not sure what your point is. This has always been the same. Nothing to do with EVs. 10 years ago if you had €25k, you could buy a boggo Toyota Corolla brand new. With warranty. Or a 5-6 year old Mercedes S-class. With no warranty and eye watering bills if something serious would go wrong and you'd go to the Mercedes main dealer to have it fixed. Some people prefer the Corolla, some people prefer the S-class. It won't surprise you I'm in the latter group ;-)

€25k asking price Kona 64kWh, no doubt you'll get it for €24k, that's a serious bargain. WLTP range 480km

Which is why, despite the increasingly popular view that ICEs are the devils spawn and should be crushed on sight, the majority of people will have no choice but to drive ICEs for a number of years to come yet. As you say roll on the cheap Chinese EVs, the Japanese cars of the 2020s. Still remember my Aunts new Toyota 20 back in the 70s and my father mangling the name.. Tot.. Y.. Ota.

I got a ZS in July for 36k brand new. (21k cash with my Outlander trade in). It's regularly doing 400+ km on a charge. That's the big battery top spec model with all the extras MG pilot, blind spot warnings, 360 cameras, glass roof and leather.

If you get the smaller battery standard spec one you are still getting over 300km and it's in the low 30's price wise.

MG 4 will likely be in coming in around 29k.

Yes I do expect that to happen. The new Dacia Sandero from the far east. Obviously a cheap and cheerful econobox is not for everyone, most people will still buy something a bit bigger and / or upmarket, but the Dacia Sandero was a big sales success here in Ireland (and in many other EU countries), so I expect the Chinese to take over that segment entirely. When is hard to say, but I think a 4-5 year period from now is a half decent guess. Could be earlier, could be later. But it is near certain to happen. I don't think the incumbent manufacturers will be able to compete with the new Chinese manufacturers at the bottom end of the market even if they wanted to.

I just checked and the Dacia Sandero currently costs from €15k. Damn, I could have sworn that was under €10k when it was first launched. Is it still the cheapest car in Ireland?

It would have severe repercussions and protectionism wouldn't do anyone any favours long term. And yes they are coming, but RHD markets are not the first target. Plenty of Chinese EVs already for sale in Norway and the Netherlands from the likes of Nio, Xpeng and BYD. And of course we have pure Chinese EVs already here in Ireland too, like Polestar and MG

The issue is that by the time an EV becomes affordable in our welfare paradise country, its already perceived to be obsolete or perceived to have a knackered battery.

You could sell your Micra and get a decent Leaf and keep thousands in the bank. And then enjoy big savings on running costs.

Feel free to start your own thread "should I buy an EV", giving your budget, your reasons why you are considering it, and most importantly, your driving pattern, what's your commute, what sort of trips do you make, what's the longest trip you'd do and how often, etc. The good folk in here will give you honest advice. They won't recommend you an EV if it is not suitable for you and they will give you the pros and cons.