Buzz about EVs at Cavan Autoparc

The team at Autoparc Cavan is still celebrating, having been named the best dealership in Cavan and Ulster at this year’s Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) Electric Vehicle Dealership Awards.

The feat took them to the RDS on March 26 among three other finalists, an event which went “very well”, according to Managing Director, Cathal O’Reilly. They took part in an on-stage interview speaking on the electric vehicle market in Ireland.

“The general consensus is that the electric vehicle market is taking off and it is here to stay,” he said.

Speaking on sales in Cavan, the manager said the garage “has a good few of them sold” and have received feedback whereby people are “so surprised” that they only need to charge the car once per week, if even. “Sometimes even less than that. That range anxiety thing is now a thing of the past,” he said.

“They are taking off in Cavan as well,” he added, observing that going to “any supermarket” in to town, you will see “several” EVs in the carpark.

The team has also noticed that people with electric cars are trading in and opting to go electric again, which shows that people are “sticking with them”.

He has observed that people are looking for full-electric cars with 500-600km ranges. Now, he said prices have “re-aligned” with electric cars “more or less” the same price as a car with a petrol hybrid engine in it.

“The electric cars have a place in the Irish market,” he assured, adding that eight per cent of all cars advertised on Carzone are electric cars. Further feedback they have received shows that customers are “surprised” with “how cheap” the electric vehicles are to run. The EV expert said that 95% of charging will be done at home. With a smart meter, he said a full charge (about 500km) could cost around €6 “or less”. “It’s incredibly cheap motoring,” he added.

The Autoparc Cavan Manager also addressed “mythical” stories about batteries being “very expensive” or that it “might fail” after a few years.

“That’s a myth because the batteries in these new electric cars are in segments, so there’s six or eight segments in it. You’d never have to replace all of them at the one time,” he informed, also adding that the battery is under warranty for eight years or 160,000kms.

In the Ford Explorer and Ford Capri, they offer a five-year overall warranty and a five-year free servicing package.

“It’s incredibly cheap motoring,” he reiterated. “Really and truly until you experience life in an electric car, it’s best to just listen to the experts and not listen to the people who don’t actually own one.”

While Cathal has much praise for the fully electric vehicle, Autoparc Cavan sell all-electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as diesel vehicles.

“The diesel [engine] is all but gone but there are still a small number of diesel buyers,” he said.

While EV sales are on the rise, he noted that some are still “very shy” to get into an electric car. They find that people who are driving hybrid vehicles, who have had a “taste” of electric are “ready” to go into a fully electric vehicle.

“People who are coming out of diesel cars are still finding it hard to make that transition.

“What we would say is come along, take a test drive,” he urged, adding that they allow people to take cars for 24 hours to give customers a “better feel” for the car and its capabilities.

“Then you can make up your mind.”

For more information search autoparc.ie or contact 049-4330800.