• Announcement today by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD and Minister Richard Bruton TD hailed as the most significant moment in the e-mobility infrastructure story in Ireland since ESB began installing public chargers in 2008
• Proposed funding will help fast-track mass adoption of electric vehicles in Ireland, supporting Government ambition for over 500,000 EVs on Irish roads by 2030
Issued: 10:15 am, 28 November 2018
ESB has, this morning, welcomed the announcement by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD and Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton TD that ESB’s proposal for a national high power electric vehicle charging network in Ireland has passed the initial qualification stage for Climate Action Funding.
Since 2008, ESB has been at the forefront of enabling electromobility, having built one of Europe’s first national Electric Vehicle infrastructures and associated operational supports. This original infrastructure is now almost 10 years old and needs to be expanded and upgraded to support the Government’s aim to de-carbonise transport in Ireland, particularly in light of the increasing adoption of EVs by Irish drivers.
Commenting on the announcement from Government Buildings this morning, Marguerite Sayers, Executive Director Customer Solutions at ESB, welcomed the funding as the most significant moment in the e-mobility story in Ireland since ESB got involved almost ten years ago. “Enabling the electrification of transport is a key part of ESB’s Brighter Future strategy to tackle climate change. We are committed to supporting the Government’s ambition to have over 500,000 electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030. Critical to achieving this ambition will be the availability of a reliable, country-wide public charging network, that can facilitate the charging needs of significant numbers of electric vehicles, eliminate ‘range anxiety’ and enable seamless EV travel across the island of Ireland.”
Ms Sayers also outlined ESB’s Climate Action Fund proposal for a high power charging network across Ireland. “Our proposal is to install over one hundred high powered (150kW) chargers at key locations on the national road network. These chargers which will typically provide an additional driving range of 100km in six minutes. In addition, subject to planning permission and approval, we intend to replace one hundred 50kW fast chargers which can recharge a car to 80 per cent in 25 minutes and to also refurbish up to 200 standard (22kW) chargers. We look forward to working with the Department on the next phase of the funding assessment.”
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About ESB’s ecars:
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.
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.