Fast electric vehicle chargers to be rolled out across Offaly
EasyGo, Ireland’s largest car charging network provider, has announced that it will invest €500,000 in the installation of eleven new fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Offaly.
This installation is performed in partnership with eir, Ireland’s leading telecommunications provider, and Offaly County Council.
eir and EasyGo have joined forces to develop new charging points across the country, some of which will replace disused telephone kiosks, to accommodate the growing number of EVs on our roads.
This unique partnership creates an opportunity to transform spaces that once provided vital public access to telephones into supports for the future of low-carbon transportation.
According to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, about one out of every seven cars sold in Ireland so far this year are fully electric, while hybrid and fully-electric vehicles combined now account for almost half (44 per cent) of new car sales in Ireland, with the rate of adoption growing quickly.
Adding these chargers, in easily accessible town centre locations, will increase the appeal of EVs for drivers, greatly extending the accessibility of charging points and thus the range of the vehicles. Transport accounts for one-third of Ireland’s energy-related CO2 emissions so increased adoption of EVs is a key aspect of Ireland's Climate Action Plan.
The EasyGo network is today used by more than 30,000 Irish EV drivers who can avail of charging at more than 2,400 charge-points nationally.
Commenting on the agreement, Mr Tom Shanahan, Director of Services with Offaly County Council said: “Offaly County Council in partnership with Eir/EasyGo have commenced the roll out of predominantly fast charging points for Electric Vehicles across Offaly in order to support the migration towards Zero Emission vehicles, particularly for Rural Communities.
"We continue to work with all our partners including Zero Emission Vehicle Ireland (ZEVI) in order to deliver and support the objectives of the Department of Transport’s recently issued ‘Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2025’.
"Offaly County Council is committed to a leadership role in implementing our Climate Action goals to support the National commitment of 51% Carbon Emission Reduction by 2030 and Carbon Neutral by 2050.
"To deliver on our commitments we understand the role of all our stakeholders and commercial partners in working towards sustainable and measureable reduction programs. This partnership approach with Eir/EasyGo is an excellent example of public-private collaboration at work to achieve Climate Action Objectives’.
Oliver Loomes, CEO eir commented: “Radical transformation is required to meet the challenge of climate change. At eir, we are committed to playing our part in the creation of a greener, more sustainable Ireland. In order for Ireland to move to electric vehicles, we must have the required infrastructure in place, not just in cities, but across all of the country.
"We are proud to partner with EasyGo and Offaly County Council to assist in the installation of EV charging points across Offaly. We are in discussion with other County Councils across the country about similar programmes and, wherever possible, we will replace unused eir payphone kiosks with rapid EV charging units and we will continue to assist in making the transition to EV ownership more viable.”
EasyGo founder and technical director Chris Kelly expressed his delight at this agreement: “EasyGo is on a mission to decarbonise transport, and our partnership with eir can go a long way to achieving that. To include so many locations in Offaly will be a great improvement of infrastructure in Offaly, and we are grateful for the active engagement from the leadership and wider team at Offaly County Council.”
The new EV chargers to be installed in Offaly will be in the following locations:
● Tullamore
● Edenderry
● Birr
● Kilmalogue, Portarlington
● Clara
● Banagher
● Ferbane
● Daingean
● Kilcormac
● Shinrone
● Rhode
These installations mark the continuation of the rollout of this programme nationally. Throughout this programme, EasyGo and eir will utilise Tritium’s world-first, next-generation simultaneous DC Rapid Chargers, adding up to 100km range to an Electric Vehicle in just 15 minutes.