Electric Vehicle Mileage Rates Ireland 2026
Driving an electric or plug-in hybrid for business? Irish Revenue maps all EVs to the 1201–1500cc rate band. There is no separate EV rate — the same 4 progressive distance bands apply. Here's exactly what you get, how it compares to petrol and diesel, and why it often works in the employee's favour.
EV Mileage Rates: The 1201–1500cc Band
These rates apply to all battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), regardless of the vehicle's power output or battery size. There is no separate EV-specific rate — Revenue maps EVs to the 1201–1500cc engine category.
EV vs ICE: Side-by-Side Comparison
How do EV rates compare to petrol and diesel vehicles? The EV rate sits in the middle — higher than the smallest engine category, identical to 1201–1500cc, and lower than the largest engines.
| Band | Up to 1,200cc | EV / 1,201–1,500cc | Over 1,500cc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1: 0–1,500 km | €0.4180 | €0.4340 | €0.5182 |
| Band 2: 1,501–5,500 km | €0.7264 | €0.7918 | €0.9063 |
| Band 3: 5,501–25,000 km | €0.3178 | €0.3179 | €0.3922 |
| Band 4: 25,001 km + | €0.2056 | €0.2385 | €0.2587 |
EV/Hybrid column highlighted. For the full rate tables including motorcycles and bicycles, see our Travel & Subsistence Rates reference.
The EV Advantage: Over-Compensation
Civil service mileage rates are designed to cover the full cost of running a vehicle — fuel, insurance, depreciation, servicing, tax. For petrol and diesel cars, the rates roughly approximate actual running costs.
For EVs, the picture is different. Electricity is significantly cheaper per kilometre than petrol or diesel. Insurance is comparable. Servicing costs are lower (fewer moving parts, no oil changes). Yet EV drivers receive the same rate as a 1201–1500cc petrol or diesel car. The result: EV drivers are typically over-compensated relative to their actual running costs.
Attending a conference or course in your EV? Reduced flat rates apply instead of the progressive bands — see our Reduced Mileage Rates guide.
Future Outlook
The current mileage rate structure — including the EV mapping to the 1201–1500cc band — has been in place since 1 September 2022 (Circular 16/2022, updated by Revenue eBrief No. 058/25 on 29 January 2025 for rate amounts).
There is ongoing discussion in the public service and among tax practitioners about whether EV-specific rates should be introduced to reflect the lower running costs. However, as of April 2026, no changes have been announced. Any future changes would be published via a Revenue circular — we'll update our rates page immediately when they do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
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