The Republic of Ireland’s (RoI) minister for transport, Eamon Ryan, has announced the locations of 17 new high-powered recharging pools for electric vehicles (EV) along the nation’s National Road Network.
Each of the recharging pools provide banks of fast and ultra-fast charging points, so that people can charge their EVs quickly.
RoI’s transport ministry reports that the installations are the first part of a major plan to ensure that there are more recharging points along the nation’s roads.
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A second grant scheme concentrating on national roads is expected to open later this year.
RoI minister for transport Eamon Ryan said: “EVs are an important part of our journey to reducing emissions in the transport sector.
“Putting in place these banks of high-powered recharging points is an important first step in our commitment to people and to a more sustainable transport system.
“This will complement our other commitments such as the EV purchase grant scheme, which will remain unchanged again next year, our grants for home chargers and the continued VRT reduction for EVs.
“Add this to the greater choice and price competitiveness on the market, we hope more and more people will be encouraged to choose electric.”
Following the installation of the grant-aided recharging infrastructure, the average distance between high-power recharging pools along the scheme routes will be 45km.
The 131 high-power recharging points will provide 24 mWh of additional charging capacity and will be funded by Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland.
This will come under the first EV charging infrastructure Light Duty Vehicle (LDV) En-Route Grant Scheme and is led by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
The grant scheme was launched in February this year and aims to accelerate the development of EV charging infrastructure across Ireland’s road network by incentivising private sector involvement.
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Additional LDV en-route schemes are under development and will seek to address any areas of the network requiring additional support, where it was not possible to make sufficient awards under the initial LDV grant scheme, as well as providing further EV charging infrastructure coverage of the National Road Network.
CEO of TII Peter Walsh said: “Our collaboration with ZEVI and private businesses underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing EV recharging infrastructure.
“These recharging points will not only benefit individual drivers but also contribute to Ireland’s overall environmental objectives.”
Achievements and innovations in EV charging infrastructure will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector
