Ards and North Down Council has announced that seven new rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have been installed across the borough.

The EV chargers are located in:

• Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex: 1 x 50kW & 1 x 75kW

• Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex: 1 x 50kW & 2 x 75kW

• Bangor Sportsplex; 1 x 50kW

• Londonderry Park: 1 x 50kW

The roll out of EV charging stations has received support of just over €6.4 million of European Union funding from the INTERREG VA programme which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Match funding has been provided by the Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland) and the Department for Transport (Republic of Ireland) and Transport Scotland.

The installation and commissioning of these new rapid EV charging stations have been completed by East Border Region Ltd and FASTER Project partners. A total of 75 rapid EV charging stations have been installed in Northern Ireland, Ireland (Border Region) and in rural areas across Scotland’s west coast and western isles.

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Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive, SEUPB said:

"The FASTER project is a tremendous example of how cross-border collaboration can be utilised to deliver effective solutions to those challenges which are common to all regions. This complex and ambitious project has substantially increased the availability of EV charging infrastructure across Northern Ireland, Ireland and western Scotland helping to support the de-carbonisation of our roads and the transition to fully electric transport. The SEUPB is proud to have supported the FASTER project through INTERREG VA Programme and we congratulate the project partners on their success."

Councillor Terry Andrews, Chairman of East Border Region Ltd, said:

"East Border Region as Lead Partner on this innovative project are delighted to see the project come to fruition with much needed EV charging infrastructure now installed across the three jurisdictions. The project clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of cross border collaboration between a range of key stakeholders, and the benefits to be gained by adopting a strategic approach to sustainable infrastructure development. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our project partners and delivery partners who all have worked tirelessly to ensure the project has achieved all outputs as set out at the beginning of the project."

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Jennifer Gilmour, stated:

"Ards and North Down Borough Council now has eight EV rapid charger units available at Council facility car parks in our two main urban centres. Having these units at key facilities in Bangor and Newtownards ensures that those visiting our Borough in an electric vehicle for leisure, tourism or business purposes can be safe in the knowledge that rapid top up charging is readily available. Not only is this a further demonstration of our commitment to a net zero carbon future but it also makes our Borough a more attractive place to live, work, visit and invest."