A new survey by Toyota Ireland has shown that 73 per cent of younger drivers - those aged between 18 and 29 - think that emissions from diesel-engined cars are causing problems in Ireland.
Will the same people buy electric or hybrid cars, though?
It seems so, yes. The same survey found that 59.5 per cent of that same age group would buy an electrified model - meaning either a hybrid or a fully electric car - for their next set of wheels. In the same group, 24 per cent would consider buying a petrol-engined car, and only 17 per cent would consider diesel power.
Just over a quarter of this sample of younger drivers - 27 per cent - say they plan to buy a new car in the next one to two years, while 21 per cent say they plan to buy a used car. Fuel consumption, price, and build quality are ranked as this group's three most important purchasing considerations.
Do people still think that hybrid is a good choice, with all the EV publicity?
As far as hybrids are concerned, it seems that whatever legislators might think, car buyers still consider them to be useful, as 70 per cent of all age groups surveyed by Toyota reckon that hybrid-powered cars will still be relevant in ten years' time. When it comes to that younger group, 18-29, 76 per cent said that: “hybrid cars are an innovative way to move forward in the way we drive.”
At the moment, diesel still holds a 23 per cent market share in Ireland - much higher than the European average of 12 per cent. Petrol cars account for 33 per cent of all cars sold here, while hybrid and fully electric cars hold a combined 30 per cent share.
It looks as if Toyota is benefiting from its early staking of a claim to hybrid car leadership, with 68 per cent of those surveyed agreeing Toyota is leading electrified driving through its hybrid offering and 14 per cent saying they would opt for a Toyota for their next car purchase. Forty-six per cent said they believe Toyota is doing the most as a car brand to positively impact the environment and offset climate change.
What does Toyota reckon about all this?
Zoë Bradley, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Toyota Ireland, said: “The research shows the continued and growing interest in hybrid vehicles and affirms the role they play in moving Ireland to a more sustainable mode of motoring. That said, there’s still work to be done in moving more people away from diesel models. At Toyota Ireland, we pride ourselves on innovation and commitment to meeting the evolving needs of customers. We continue to expand and address the needs of Irish drivers offering an extensive electrified range of Plug-in Hybrid, Hybrid and fully electric vehicles designed to suit all lifestyles. It’s encouraging to see this reflected in the findings, as well as the recent Reptrak findings which placed us the fifth most reputable organisation in Ireland and the leading car brand for consumer trust.”