Electric and Hybrid Cars in Kildare: Grants, Charging and the Toyota Range

If you are weighing up an electric or hybrid car in Kildare, the practical questions are usually the same: what grants can I get, where will I charge it, and which Toyota actually suits how I drive. This guide answers those questions for buyers in the Naas and wider Kildare area, with the grant figures that apply in 2026.

Toyota Naas has been known as the Home of Hybrid in Kildare for years, and we are the only authorised Toyota dealer in the county. That means whether you are after a self charging hybrid, a plug in hybrid or a full battery electric car, you can see the options, ask the awkward questions and book a test drive in one place on Sallins Road.

Hybrid, plug in hybrid or full electric: which is which

Toyota uses three different electrified powertrains, and the right one depends on your driving and whether you can charge at home. Here is the difference in plain terms.

Type	How it works	Best if you
Self charging hybrid	Petrol engine paired with an electric motor that charges itself as you drive and brake. No plug, no charger needed.	Cannot charge at home and want lower fuel use with no change to your routine.
Plug in hybrid	A larger battery you charge from a socket or charger, giving a useful electric only range, with the petrol engine there for longer trips.	Have somewhere to charge and do mostly short trips but want a back up for long journeys.
Full battery electric	Runs on battery power alone, with no petrol engine and no tailpipe emissions. Charged from a home or public charger.	Can charge regularly and want the lowest running costs and the SEAI grant.

The grants below apply to full battery electric cars only. Self charging hybrids do not need charging and do not qualify, and the plug in hybrid grant has been removed.

Electric car grants in Ireland in 2026

These supports are funded by the State, not by the dealer. They are available through any authorised dealer in Ireland, and they can bring down the cost of a new battery electric car. They are worth understanding before you set a budget, because two of them only apply below certain price thresholds. Under the scheme, the SEAI grant is applied for by the dealer and deducted at the point of sale, so the buyer does not need to apply directly.

Support	What it gives you
SEAI purchase grant	A State grant of up to 3,500 euro on a new battery electric car with a full list price between 14,000 and 60,000 euro. It is applied for by the dealer and deducted from the price at the point of sale, so there is nothing for you to claim.
VRT relief	A separate relief of up to 5,000 euro on battery electric cars, administered by Revenue and in place until the end of 2026. Full relief applies up to an open market selling price of 40,000 euro, then tapers between 40,000 and 50,000 euro, with no relief above 50,000 euro. It is already reflected in the price the dealer shows you.
Home charger grant	A SEAI grant of 300 euro towards a home charger. It is applied for by a registered electrician when they install the charger, and it is not tied to the car or its price.
Low motor tax	Battery electric cars sit in the lowest motor tax band, currently 120 euro a year.

Important: these are State supports, not dealer offers. The SEAI purchase grant and VRT relief apply to new battery electric cars only and cannot be claimed on a used electric car. Self charging hybrids do not qualify, and the plug in hybrid grant has been removed. Grant rules and amounts can change, so the figure that applies to a specific car is confirmed at the time of purchase. You can also check the current figures at seai.ie.

Charging an electric car in Kildare

Charging is the question most first time buyers worry about, and in practice it is more straightforward than it seems. There are three ways to charge.

At home: a dedicated home charger is the most convenient option for most owners. You plug in overnight and start each day with a full battery, and a night rate makes it cheaper than daytime charging.
Public chargers: Naas and the surrounding towns have public charge points, and there are fast chargers along the main routes towards Dublin and the southwest for longer trips.
Standard socket: you can charge from an ordinary three pin socket in a pinch, but it is slow and better kept as a back up than a daily method.

If you can charge at home, a full electric car usually makes sense. If you cannot, a self charging hybrid lets you cut fuel use without relying on a charger at all.

The electrified Toyota range

Toyota offers electrified versions across most of its range, so there is usually a hybrid or electric option whatever size of car you need. A few of the models in the electrified line up:

Aygo X: a compact city car, the smallest in the range.
Yaris and Yaris Cross: compact hybrids that suit town driving and shorter commutes.
Corolla: a hybrid family car in hatchback, saloon, Touring Sports estate and Corolla Cross form.
C-HR: a hybrid and plug in hybrid crossover with a higher driving position.
C-HR+ and bZ4X: Toyota's full battery electric models, which qualify for the SEAI grant on a new purchase.

You can see the full electrified line up and the technology behind it on the Toyota electrified range, and then talk through what suits you with our team in Naas.

Visit Toyota Naas

We are at Sallins Road, Naas, Co. Kildare, W91 XF76, open Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 18:00 and Saturday from 09:00 to 16:00. To book a test drive in a hybrid or electric Toyota, call 045 897 589 or email reception@toyotanaas.ie.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the electric car grant in Ireland in 2026?

The SEAI purchase grant is worth up to 3,500 euro on a new battery electric car with a full list price between 14,000 and 60,000 euro. It applies to new cars only and your dealer deducts it from the price for you.

Can I get a grant on a used electric car?

No. The SEAI purchase grant and VRT relief apply to new battery electric cars only and cannot be claimed on a used electric car. The home charger grant of 300 euro is not tied to the car, so it can still apply if you install a charger.

Does Toyota make a fully electric car?

Yes. The bZ4X and the C-HR+ are Toyota's full battery electric models, and both qualify for the SEAI grant on a new purchase. Toyota also offers self charging hybrids and plug in hybrids across most of its range.

What is the difference between a hybrid and a plug in hybrid Toyota?

A self charging hybrid charges its own battery as you drive and never needs to be plugged in. A plug in hybrid has a larger battery you charge from a socket or charger, giving a useful electric only range with the petrol engine there for longer trips.

Where can I charge an electric car in Kildare?

Most owners charge at home overnight with a dedicated charger. There are also public charge points in Naas and the surrounding towns, and fast chargers along the main routes for longer journeys.