We have 2 EV’s, ourselves. and daughter is waiting for learner permitt to arrive, and then She will start driving lessons via Axa - Irish School of motoring in an automatic car. They provide 12 lessons for €495, but automatic is only available in a handful of locations. One is near us.
Once she finishes those, she can get “up to” €400 off, Insurance in her own name, with Axa.
We have decided it will be an EV for her, as she can charge at home for free (to her !).
Have priced up several EV’s for her, and the insurance pricing depends on the class of car, so Nissan Leaf models vary up to €2,500 for insurance without the driving course completed(so before discount) but some other EV’s are cheaper, still checking out options. A VW E up, for example is €1,500, before completing course, but its outside her budget.
Automatic cars are now easily available globally wether it be for car hire on holidays etc, so i don’t consider this an obstacle at all, also, all new models have automatic options, including used models, so i think its correct to say, things have changed considerably.