Ireland’s transition to electric trucks is being held back by inadequate charging infrastructure and high purchase costs, according to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA).

Speaking to RTÉ, IRHA President Ger Hyland said the association supports moving away from diesel but believes current targets cannot be achieved without substantial improvements in infrastructure and affordability.

Figures reported by RTÉ show that just 54 of approximately 43,000 heavy goods vehicles on Irish roads are battery electric — around 0.13% of the fleet.

The Government’s target is for zero-emission vehicles to account for 30% of new medium and heavy-duty vehicle sales, including buses, by 2030. This concerns new sales rather than the proportion of the entire existing fleet.

Infrastructure must catch up

Hyland said operators need a charging network capable of supporting everyday haulage before electric trucks can become a realistic option across the sector.

“They’re not achievable here in this country at the present time. We don’t have infrastructure,” he told RTÉ.

He also raised concerns about electricity grid capacity and said he expects the targets to be revised downwards.

His comments underline the investment decisions facing hauliers: purchasing an electric truck requires confidence that the vehicle can complete its work and recharge within the operating schedule.

Dixon fleet shows the potential

However, the experience of North Dublin operator Dixons demonstrates that electric trucks can already serve some freight operations.

The company has four electric HGVs within its 285-truck fleet, with a reported range of approximately 350km. Operations Director Brendan Dixon told RTÉ that the vehicles work around Dublin and on journeys to Lisburn, returning during the evening or early morning.

Dixon described the trucks as reliable and said there should be a role for electric vehicles in every fleet.

However, he identified the shortage of public truck charging as the principal limitation on their wider use, calling for infrastructure on key transport routes.

The distinction matters for operators considering a purchase. A vehicle working a predictable route with access to depot charging presents a different proposition from one undertaking variable journeys and relying on public chargers.

Purchase price remains a barrier

RTÉ’s report also highlighted the gap in vehicle purchase prices, citing approximately €150,000 for a typical diesel truck and around three times that amount for an electric equivalent.

Lower energy costs could help offset that premium. The report cited an illustrative comparison of approximately €900 for depot electricity against €2,000 in diesel to cover an equivalent distance.

Those figures should be treated as an operational example rather than a saving every fleet can expect. Electricity tariffs, vehicle specification, payload, route and charging arrangements all influence the business case.

Department points to support measures

The Department of Transport told RTÉ that a working group and grant supports are in place to assist the transition. It said electrification is essential to transport decarbonisation, while acknowledging challenges for certain heavy-duty operations.

Ireland’s National Road Network EV Charging Plan also recognises that depot charging is likely to support early adopters, with dedicated public infrastructure needed to enable wider uptake.

For Irish hauliers, the next test is whether charging provision, grid connections and financial supports develop quickly enough to make electric trucks a workable investment across a broader range of routes.