The European Investment Bank (EIB) is set to collaborate with the Department of Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to significantly boost the country's public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Partnering with Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), the initiative aims to design and deliver a nationwide network that ensures a charging point is accessible to every community.

The advisory agreement was officially signed in Dublin yesterday by Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien and EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris, ahead of the EIB-Ireland Financing Group meeting.

Managed by the EIB and funded by the European Commission through the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, this new best-practice cooperation will provide ZEVI and local authorities with a comprehensive suite of implementation tools. These include procurement strategies, concession contract templates, financial models, and structured guidance to facilitate a swift, cost-effective, and equitable rollout.

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien stated: "The era of the electric vehicle in Ireland is not coming — it is here. There are almost 235,000 EVs already on our roads, and we are on course to reach multiples of that figure by 2030. However, ambition alone is not enough: drivers need to know that wherever they live, wherever they work, a charger will be there when they need it. This partnership with the EIB delivers the tools that will make that promise real. Ireland is drawing on the best expertise in Europe, and we are going to roll out a public charging network that is fast, fair and future-ready, from the streets of Dublin to the most rural townland in Connacht."

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EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris added: "Ireland has set bold targets and the momentum is undeniable. Nearly 235,000 electric vehicles already on the road proves that Irish drivers are embracing the future. The EIB is here to ensure the infrastructure not only catches up but also stays ahead. We have backed EV charging networks across more than 14 countries, and we are bringing that hard-earned experience to Ireland. This is not just about installing chargers— it is about equipping every local authority with the tools, the contracts and the confidence to deliver at scale and at pace. Together, we can make Ireland a model for how a country of any size can lead the clean transport revolution."

The partnership directly supports the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan to 2030, which serves as Ireland's roadmap for expanding neighbourhood on-street charging, local hubs, and destination charging at workplaces, car parks, and public facilities across all urban and rural areas. The engagement is backed by the EU Cities Mission, which aims to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030, including Dublin and Cork.

Ireland's EV Transition

With over 235,000 electric vehicles on Irish roads by the end of 2025, rapid growth is expected to continue as the country targets having 30% of its car fleet electrified by 2030. The EIB advisory partnership is specifically designed to keep public charging infrastructure ahead of this demand, ensuring motorists without off-street or home parking are supported.

Local authorities will lead the regional and local delivery on the ground within a coordinated national framework developed alongside ZEVI. The new templates and tools will enable councils to move consistently, integrating charging points into daily locations such as supermarkets, workplaces, and sports facilities.

EIB's European EV Track Record

The EIB brings extensive practical experience to the project, having financed and advised on large-scale EV charging deployments across more than 14 European countries. Key projects include:

• A €40 million loan backing 8,472 new charging stations across Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Romania.

• A €35 million loan financing over 250 fast-charging hubs across Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

• A €35 million programme loan supporting an 8,500-point charging network in Spain and Portugal.

• Advisory and financing support for major EV charging concessions in Italy, France, and Greece.

• Dedicated advisory work assisting public authorities with infrastructure design and procurement in Brussels, Athens, and across Central and Eastern Europe.

The EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, operating under Horizon Europe, aligns with the European Green Deal, the Policy Agenda for Cities, and the Clean Industrial Deal to foster a clean and digital transition. It brings together local authorities, citizens, businesses, and investors to establish over 100 climate-neutral hubs by 2030, creating innovation models for all European cities to replicate by 2050.