Work is underway to replace old Electric Vehicle (EV) charging facilities with new multi-standard fast models across the country.

As part of ESB ecars' programme, 17 fast charge points at Circle K owned service stations have been upgraded in Limerick, Clare, Westmeath, Dublin, Cork, Offaly, Kerry, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Tipperary and Donegal.

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.

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).

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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."

Speaking about the charge points at its service stations, Gordon Lawlor, Fuels Director at Circle K Ireland, added: "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."


(CM)