ESB to replace second batch of 15 chargers across Northern Ireland

W/C 25th October

• Robinson Centre, Montgomery Rd, Belfast, Antrim
• Cairnshill Park and Ride, Saintfield Road/PurdysburnRoad, Belfast
• Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, 153 Bangor Rd, Holywood
• Agnew Street, Larne
• Car Park, @Spar on Harbour Road/Garron Road, Havelock Place, Larne
  
  

W/C 1st November

• Jordanstown Train Station Park & Ride, Lynda Avenue, Jordanstown
• Wellington Street, Enniskillen
• Ulster-American Folk Park, 2 Mellon Road, Omagh
• Monaghan Street, Newry, Down
• The Quays Shopping Centre, Via Bridge Street or Albert Basin, Down
  
  

W/C 8th November

• Quayside Public Parking, Stella Maris Street, Strangford, Down
• Ratkeltair House, Market Street, Downpatrick
• Galgorm Resort and Spa, 136 Fenaghy Rd, Ballymena, Antrim
• Trolan's Supervalu (Filling Station), Ballymena Road (B62), Ballymoney
  
  

W/C 15th November

• DRD Car Park, Lower Lansdowne Road/ Bath Road, Portrush, 438.0, Antrim

Please see below answers to questions you might have: 

Why are there reliability issues with the charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland?

We are aware that there are reliability issues with parts of the electric vehicle charging network in Northern Ireland. Due to the age of many of these chargers, most of which were installed almost 10 years ago, they are no longer supported by the original manufacturer and cannot be fixed despite the best efforts of our maintenance contractors. ESB is replacing 30 fast or 22kW AC chargers and a number of rapid chargers to improve the network.  

However, a much larger replacement programme is required to ensure a reliable and modern network that meets electric vehicle drivers needs for years to come. We are currently in discussions with key stakeholders to explore funding options to allow this investment to happen.  

What chargers have already been replaced?  

ESB already replaced 15 chargers over the summer in Northern Ireland. They are located at: 

• Public Parking, Palace Demense Park (A3), Off Friary Road (A3), Armagh

• Car Park, Abbey Lane, Off Linenhall Street, Armagh

• Public Car Park, Quay Street, Bangor

• BCC Car Park, Cromac Street, Belfast

• BCC Car Park, Hope Street North/Bruce Street, Belfast

• BCC Car Park, Little Donegall Street, Belfast

• Lower Crescent, Belfast

• Strand Road, Londonderry

• Victoria Market Car Park, Off Queens Quay Roundabout, Londonderry

• Carlisle Road, Belfast, Derry

• Riverdale, Off High Street, Larne

• Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Car Park, Benson Street, Lisburn

• Newry & Mourne Museum (Bagenal's Castle), Abbey Way (A28), Newry

• Public Car Park, Bridge Street, Newry

• Hill Street, Newry

Why were these specific chargers selected to be upgraded?

The chargers were selected for a variety of reasons including uptime, usage (current and historical) and adjacent population.  

Have you any plans to introduce pay for use for the chargers in Northern Ireland?

Further investment is required to improve the reliability of the network before pay for use can be introduced. We are currently in discussions with key stakeholders to explore what funding options are available to allow this investment to happen. ESB will communicate progress in relation to this in due course.  

Why are the chargers branded as ESB?

You’ll notice that the new chargers are branded ESB. ecarNI is undergoing a rebrand to ESB which involves new branding on new chargers, and a new website www.esb.ie/ecars/NI.

The current ecarNI chargers will remain unchanged and drivers can still use the chargers in the same way with their charge point access card and via the ecar connect app.  

Our 24/7 customer care line is still available at the same phone number 0345 601 8303 or you can email us at ecars@esb.ie.  

To keep up to date with progress of this roll out, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/esbecars.