Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
301. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to ensure that all motorway stop off petrol stations are fitted out with both fast charge and type 2 EV charging points, recognising the fact that many EV users only have type 2 connections; and if he will introduce minimum standards to ensure that all stations are required to facilitate type 2 charging points. [1866/24]
View answerHaving an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles and home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer as well as assisting in the overall management of the national grid. Over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home.
However, there is also a need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible, such as on-street and residential charging, destination charging and workplace charging.
I launched The National En-Route EV Charging Network Plan in September 2023. This is the first element of the National EV Charging Network Plan which, will cover all publicly accessible EV charging in the country.
The National En-Route EV Charging Network Plan and associated 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.
The European Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation which has come into force and will apply from 13th of April 2024, requires that where an AC charge-point is installed, it must provide a Type 2 connector for interoperability purposes. Where a DC charge point is being provided, it must provide a combined charging system ‘Combo 2’. The vast majority of cars battery are limited to take 7kW or 11kW when charging at AC. Based on 7kWs, it would take up to 2.5 hours to build up 100kM range. The maximum AC charge provided is 43kW, which only a tiny percentage of EV cars can accommodate, would result in valuable spaces being occupied for over 30 minutes to achieve 100KM. Therefore it would not be the best use of limited charging spaces that that are intended to serve the motorway traffic and require the fastest charging capacity possible. The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years, which will include AC charging at destination locations and across local authority EV charging networks.
