Roll out of new high-powered EV chargers on motorway network set to ease range anxiety

More than 130 high-powered charge points are to be installed at 17 locations across the country

placeholder image — More than 130 high-powered charge points are to be installed at 17 locations across the country

Plans to install 131 fast and ultra-fast charge points is announced

A major government-supported plan to roll out more than 130 high-powered EV chargers at locations along the motorway network has been revealed.

The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, has confirmed the locations of 17 new recharging pools for electric vehicles along the national road network. Each of these recharging pools will provide banks of fast and ultra-fast recharging points, so that motorists can charge their EVs quickly.

This initiative, it's hoped, will bolster Ireland’s EV recharging infrastructure and promote sustainable transportation. It is the first part of a major plan to ensure that there are more recharging points along our roads.

A second grant scheme concentrating on national roads is expected to open later this year.

According to the Department of Transport, the new recharging infrastructure - to be located in 12 different counties - is expected to be in place and operation by the end of 2025. Following the installation of the grant-aided recharging infrastructure, the average distance between high-power recharging pools along the scheme routes will be 45km.

Commenting, Minister Ryan said: “EVs are an important part of our journey to reducing emissions in the transport sector. They are cleaner, better cars but we want to provide extra certainty to people either using an EV now or thinking about one into the future. Putting in place these banks of high-powered recharging points is an important first step in our commitment to people and to a more sustainable transport system."

The newly-announced high-power recharging points will provide 24 megawatts of additional recharging capacity and they will be funded by Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) under the first EV Charging Infrastructure LDV (Light Duty Vehicle) En-Route Grant Scheme and led by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

The government-backed grant scheme was launched in February this year and aims to accelerate the development of EV recharging infrastructure across Ireland's road network by incentivising private sector involvement.