TheGreenCarWebsite reports that Europe’s first cross-border fast charger network will join Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland, making it possible for EV drivers to roam across the two countries.
A total of 46 new fast charge points will be installed as part of a €4.2 million project, run as a joint initiative between the Electricity Supply Board’s (ESB) ecars project and the Department for Regional Development Northern Ireland (DRD NI). It is co-funded by the EU TEN-T and will become a Europe-wide test bed for the rollout of an interoperable network of charging points across the EU.
The first charging station is now open at the Topaz Service Station at Dublin Port and is capable of recharging compatible electric cars to 80 per cent battery capacity in just 20 minutes. Other fast charging stations are already in service along key inter-urban routes on the E1, linking in Belfast, Banbridge, Dublin, Wexford and Rosslare, with further charging stations planned for Cork, Galway, Limerick and Derry.
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in Ireland, Pat Rabbitte, said: “I am delighted to launch this North-South electric vehicle corridor which represents another important step in the development of a nationwide electromobility programme in Ireland.”
Jerry O’Sullivan, Managing Director of ESB Networks, said: “With the global move to a low carbon future we are seeing the continued integration of the energy and transport sectors. This investment reinforces Ireland’s leading position in the development and rollout of a standardised, smart electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The rollout of this infrastructure provides the ability to accommodate the uptake of electric vehicles nationally in line with Government policy, and further enhances their appeal to the general public.”
The project funding is part of an EU study to assess the potential of EV fast charging infrastructure across Member States. It is hoped that the study will provide a framework for further standardised fast charge networks in Europe.
There are currently over 1,000 public charge-points across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. A map of ESB’s ecars network of charging points is available here www.esb.ie/ChargePointMap where you can also download the free mobile app ‘ecar connect’.
