Niall Collins
Question:236. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport his plans to provide echarge points in towns and villages across County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11724/22]
View answerTuesday, 1 March 2022
Questions (236)
Written answers
The Deputy will be aware that the Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years.
A national charging infrastucture strategy is being developed which will set out a pathway to stay ahead of demand over the critical period out to 2030. My Department is engaging with relevant stakeholders to inform this work and it is envisaged that the strategy will be published for consultation early this year.
Preparations are underway to establish an Office of Low Emission Vehicles. This Office will play an important role in our transition to zero emission vehicles. It will co-ordinate measures to support the uptake of EVs and the rollout of charge point infrastructure.
In terms of existing supports for public charging, the Public Charge Point Scheme continues to be available during 2022 to provide local authorities with a grant of up to €5,000 to support the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of the scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure which will facilitate owners of electric vehicles, who do not have access to a private parking space, but instead rely on parking their vehicles in public places near their homes to charge their EVs. My Department is reviewing the Scheme at present to ensure that it is as effective as possible in driving the decarbonisation effort.
The Department is working closely with a number of key stakeholders, including Local Government, to ensure electric vehicle charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand. This includes developing appropriate guidance for local authorities in line with the Programme for Government which will ensure we can continue to expand our national charging network through the supports for on street chargers. I am also aware that a report was published by the CCMA on the provision of guidance to local authorities on the provision of charging infrastructure. The document is available for viewing online at www.lgma.ie/en/publications/general-publications/local-authority-electrification-of-fleet-and-ev-charging-guidance.pdf.
€10 million was committed from the Climate Action Fund (CAF) to support ESB investment in the charging network and this has leveraged a further €10 million investment from ESB. This intervention alone will result in:
- 90 additional high power chargers, each capable of charging two vehicles - 17 high power chargers distributed across 14 multi vehicle hubs have been delivered as part of the programme to date. The installation of high powered charging hubs will be the priority for the remainder of the program.
- 52 additional fast chargers, which may replace existing standard chargers - This work is completed at 36 locations. ESB are awaiting the delivery of new chargers which have twice the charging capacity and speed when compared to the existing technology. This element of the programme will restart when the units are delivered and conclude in Q3.
- 264 replacement standard chargers with more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points - This work is substantially complete, 258 of the chargers have now been successfully replaced.
The project is due to be completed in 2023.
Further details on ESB charge points nationwide can be found at esb.ie/ecars/charge-point-map.
In light of the ESB eCars responsibility in the matter of the provision of charge points, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the ESB for direct response. Please contact my Office if no reply is received within 10 working days.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
ESB ecars is currently investing €20m in upgrading and expanding the public EV charging infrastructure in Ireland. €10 million was committed from the Climate Action Fund (CAF) and ESB matched this funding to bring the total investment fund to €20m. The outline scope of the project is to install:
- 90 additional high power chargers, each capable of charging two vehicles. 17 high power chargers distributed across 14 multi vehicle hubs have already been delivered as part of the programme to date. The construction of another 36 high powered charging hubs will be the priority for the remainder of the program.
- 52 additional fast chargers, which may replace existing standard chargers - This work is completed at 36 locations. ESB are awaiting the delivery of new chargers which have twice the charging capacity and speed when compared to the existing technology. This element of the programme will restart when the units are delivered and conclude in Q3.
- 264 replacement standard chargers with more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points - This work is substantially complete, 258 of the chargers have now been successfully replaced.
Our high-powered charging hubs offer customers the ability to obtain 100km of range in as little as six minutes. Our most recent installation of a Tier 3 hub was in Ballysimon, Limerick and we are in advanced negotiations with a private landowner to install a larger Tier 1 hub. I am hopeful that these commercial discussions will be a success and if so, preliminary design works on the new hub will begin immediately.
I trust the above is satisfactory. Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries in relation to my mail.
Question No. 237 answered with Question No. 234.