Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2024
204. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport what the national strategy is to roll out more high-speed charging points at service stations or laybys along the State's motorways and national road network to facilitate electric car users and to encourage others to switch to EVs. [4933/24]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles
A National En-Route EV Charging Network Plan was published by ZEVI in September. This Plan and associated funding initiatives will drive the delivery of charging infrastructure on the National Road Network. The Plan sets out ambitious targets for the level and coverage needed for en-Route charging on our national roads network. We are already seeing significant increased capacity of EV charging on our national roads, and this plan provides additional reassurance and certainty for EV drivers and those thinking of making the switch to EVs that they will be able to find high powered, fast and convenient EV charge-points where and when they need them.
The Plan sets out a provision of EV charging that will be ahead of demand and meet European requirements for charging electric cars, LGVs and HGVs by 2025 and 2030. The implementation of this Plan through enhanced grid connections, funding interventions and enabling measures will remove barriers and accelerate the delivery of high-powered EV charging. A new funding scheme to accelerate charging provision on the motorway network will be launched by TII next week.
The Plan can be found at assets.gov.ie/271453/27a5fef0-582c-46df-a16c-acfa2ea1df48.pdf#page=null
