- Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers to benefit from ESB ecars fast charge point upgrade and replacement programme
- Eight ESB ecars charge points at Circle K service stations upgraded with new multi-standard fast chargers
22 March 2019
Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers will enjoy improved charging facilities, thanks to an ongoing upgrade and replacement programme currently underway by ESB ecars.
As part of its commitment to investing in and developing the EV charging network, ESB ecars has undertaken a programme of replacing older fast charging models with new multi-standard fast chargers in recent months, a number of which are located at Circle K service stations around the country. This work enhances the network and provides more fast charging options for EVs including Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, Kia and Hyundai vehicles, which use the “CCS” charging standard.
ESB has been at the forefront of enabling electromobility, having built one of Europe’s first nationwide EV charging networks and associated operational supports with more than 1,100 charging points across the island of Ireland.
The original EV charging network is now almost 10 years old and is currently being upgraded and expanded. This upgrade and replacement programme is of vital importance to support the increasing number of EV drivers now on Irish roads. Following double digit growth in electric vehicle sales last year, the number of EV registrations in Ireland reached almost 2,100 (new and imports) in February 2019 compared to almost 600 in the same month in 2018, according to The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
Outlining the importance of the upgrade programme to EV drivers and the wider electrification of transport ambition, Marguerite Sayers, Executive Director, Customer Solutions, ESB, said: “A key element of ESB’s Strategy for a Brighter Future is to enable the electrification of transport to help tackle climate change. To improve the drivers’ experience and to encourage further adoption of EVs, this ongoing upgrade and replacement work of our network, starting with our fast chargers, is critical.
“Since the beginning of this year we’ve replaced many of the oldest fast chargers across the country. We’ll continue to work with EV drivers and stakeholders as we move to the next phase of introducing payment for fast charging, which will help fund ongoing investment in Ireland’s EV charging network.”
As part of the current programme, eight fast charge points at Circle K owned service stations have been upgraded with multi-standard fast chargers. These include:
- Sexton Street North, Thomondgate, Limerick City, County Limerick
- Airport Road, Tullyvaragh, Shannon, County Clare
- Castlemaine Street (Dublin Road), Athlone, County Westmeath
- Newlands Cross, Fonthill Road (R113), Clondalkin, Dublin 22
- Promenade Road, Dublin Port, Dublin 1
- Finglas Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11
- Templeville Road, Dublin 6
- Frankfield Service Station, Frankfield Road, Douglas, County Cork
Speaking about the charge points at its service stations, Gordon Lawlor, Fuels Director at Circle K Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer our customers these new fast chargers for electric vehicles across a range of our service stations nationwide. With purchases of electric vehicles growing steadily, it’s very important for us to be able to meet the increasing demand for charge points; partnering with ESB was the perfect way for us to do this. Working with them to deliver these new multi-standard fast charging points to Circle K forecourts across the country, allows us to continue to deliver the highest quality services to our loyal customers.”
A further nine fast charge points have also been upgraded by ESB ecars at the following locations:
- Barack Obama Plaza, Moneygall, County Offaly
- Randles Nissan, Muckross Road, Killarney, County Kerry
- Four Lakes Retail Park, Dublin Road, Carlow Town, County Carlow
- Emo Service Station, M9 Junction 10 , Main Street, Knocktopher, County Kilkenny
- Londis, Sligo Road, Grange, County Sligo
- Amber Centra Service Station, Rosslare Road, Killinick, County Wexford
- Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh, County Tipperary
- Drinagh Motors, Rosslare Road, Drinagh, County Wexford
- Tobin’s Port Road, Letterkenny, County Donegal
Ends
Media Queries to Grainne Burns, ESB Press Office, 087-9536640
About ESB ecars:
ESB ecars was established in 2010 by ESB to roll out the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across Ireland and to support the introduction and demand for electric vehicles nationally.
ESB ecars operates and maintains 1,100 public charge points across the island of Ireland. These are available for electric vehicle (EV) drivers to re-charge their vehicles and enable longer journeys across the country.
About ESB:
ESB operates across the electricity market: from generation, through transmission and distribution to the supply of customers with an expanding presence in the Great Britain generation market. In addition we extract further value through supplying gas, energy services and using our networks to carry fibre for telecommunications. ESB is the owner of the distribution and transmission networks in the Republic of Ireland (via ESB Networks) and Northern Ireland (via Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Ltd).
ESB contributes almost €2 billion annually to the Irish economy through dividends, investments, taxes and jobs. ESB provides significant employment both directly, with over 7,800 employees, and indirectly through contractors and service providers.
About Circle K Ireland:
Circle K Ireland, part of the global fuel and convenience store brand Circle K, is the leading fuel and convenience retailer in Ireland. With 2,300 employees, its retail network is made up of over 420 stations across the island of Ireland. Of these stations, over 160 are owned by Circle K and over 260 are owned by independent retail partners. The company also operates a large commercial fuels business, with over 20 depots and two owned terminals across the country.