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Electric Vehicles

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2020

Wednesday, 7 October 2020

Ceisteanna (28)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

28. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration will be given to increasing the number of rural 44KW and 50KW charging points for electric vehicle users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29052/20]

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Freagraí scríofa

In line with the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan 2019, this Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years.   There are currently circa 650 standard public charge points and over 100 fast charge stations (the majority of which are operated by the ESB) in Ireland. An interactive map showing ESB charger locations and their status can be found at www.esb.ie/ecars .

We have committed €10 million from the Climate Action Fund to promote 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 (150kW), each capable of charging two vehicles

52 additional fast chargers (50kW), which may replace existing 22 kW standard chargers

264 replacement standard chargers (22kW) with more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points

The high powered and fast chargers will be mainly concentrated on or near national roads and motorways to enable longer journeys to be completed. Three multi charger sites have been delivered, one each in Galway (M6), Kildare (M9) and Laois, while the programme to upgrade 50 22kW chargers to 50kW has already commenced with 10 installations now in place.

Further upgrades are planned in the coming months. More information on these upgrades can be found at https://esb.ie/ecars/our-network/high-power-charging-hubs.

It should also be noted that my Department, in line with the Programme for Government, is working with a number of key stakeholders, including Local Government, to develop a strategy to ensure electric charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand. In meeting this key criterion the strategy will need to look at appropriate locations for the infrastructure which will include consideration of both rural and urban settings.   

Combined with an effective public charging network, Ireland's home charging policy will help sustain and service the expected growth of electric vehicles on Irish roads. Charging at home accounts for around 80% of electric vehicle charging in Ireland and it is best practice, internationally, to promote home charging as the most common and cheapest form of charging. To support home charging, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), on behalf of my Department, administers an EV Home Charger Grant of up to €600 towards the purchase and installation of an EV home charger unit.

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