Any new SEAI grant for car scrappage is expected next year, DoneDeal.ie has predicted. 

In July, the Government opened up a €10 million pilot scrappage scheme, in which owners of petrol and diesel cars were given a €5,000 grant to scrap their vehicle and buy an EV. 

When combined with the existing €3,500 grant for new EVs, the ICE2EV Pilot Scrappage Scheme brought the combined State subsidy to €8,500. 

Minister Darragh O’Brien hailed it as an “incredible success” and insiders expect a permanent scrappage scheme could soon be announced. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Paddy Comyn of DoneDeal.ie predicted that too would quickly be oversubscribed. 

“We've seen that with the oversubscription to the recent scrappage scheme there was 3,000 applicants for 2,000 grants,” he explained. 

“There is talk of that being introduced again early next year, that I suspect would be again oversubscribed.” 

Evs charging in County Louth. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Mr Comyn said that given the continued escalation of fuel prices in recent months has concentrated minds and many are considering buying an EV to cut costs. 

“We see a massive correlation between fuel prices and how much people search for EVs at the moment,” he said. 

“We're seeing record searches for EVs because of the fuel prices.” 

He also noted that people are much less concerned than they once were about the quality of EVs. 

“Range used to be always up near the top of the charts when it came to concerns,” he said. 

“But a lot of the cars that come on stream now are have enough range, so that's really less of a concern. 

“What we are seeing is people just concerned about the long-term effects of the battery; if they're buying a new car, they want to have a long warranty. 

“Or if they're buying a used EV, they want to know the state of health of the battery - which is obviously very important.” 

Overall, Mr Comyn said he is “no doubt” about the direction of travel. 

Main image: A car scrap yard. Picture by: Alamy.com.