Diesel car sales have suffered their biggest-ever slump as motorists switch to electric-powered vehicles in record numbers.

The number of new electric cars that rolled off forecourts in the first ten months of the year has almost doubled - up 82% - from 8,089 to a high of 14,707 compared to the same period last year.

However, the total of pure electric and hybrid cars has reached 41,684 - their highest-ever proportion of the market at almost 43%.

At the same time, diesel car sales have suffered a massive decline, down from 33,538 to 26,309, a drop of 7,229 or 21.5%, as motorists shun the highly polluting vehicles.

Diesel prices at the pumps are also spiralling again to almost €2 a litre.

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Sales of petrol cars are down too but by a far lower proportion - from 31,944 to 29,427, a drop of 2,517 or 8%.

Welcoming the news, Green Party TD Patrick Costello said: "Thousands of people die prematurely every year because of bad air in this country and switching away from diesel will of course help that.

"Overall it's positive. There's still a conversation to be had about urban space. We still need cycling and pedestrian space coming before them.

"There was a big switch to them for tax reasons. They have lower CO2 but they have heavy particulates."

Diesel drivers have also seen pump prices go to almost €2 a litre recently, overtaking petrol prices by around 20c a litre. The war in Ukraine is pushing up the fuel price as much of it is imported from Russia.

Charge-point provider EasyGo yesterday announced a multimillion-euro investment in new fast charging points around the Republic.

It comes as a new report warns that a shortage of charge points in the north and west raises serious doubts about the Government's ability to deliver on its commitment to have almost a million electric vehicles on the roads by 2030.

CSO Transport Section statistician Nele van der Wielen said: "These figures show the continued growth in the number of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles licensed in Ireland.

"The number of new electric cars licensed has increased by 82% from 8,089 in the first 10 months of 2021 to 14,707 in 2022. At the same time, the number of new diesel cars is decreasing. For the first ten months of 2022, 26,309 new cars licensed were diesel cars compared with 33,538 in the same period in 2021."

The number of used cars licensed in the first ten months this year has also slumped. The number registered is down 20,391 to 39,942 from 60,333 a year ago, a drop of 34%. Irish dealers and private motorists historically imported most right-hand drive used cars from Britain but Brexit means imports now attract duty, making the cost less attractive.

Society of the Irish Motor Industry boss Brian Cooke said: "With hugely challenging emission reduction targets over the next decade, at both national and EU level, it is vital that EV sales continue to gather pace.

"In this context it is essential that the industry and Government work closely to create an environment where EVs remain not only a strong environmental choice but also a cost-effective choice for consumers and businesses."