Developing a national EV charging network
Teresa Fallon, High-Power Infrastructure Lead at Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) outlines the development of Ireland’s National EV Charging Infrastructure Plan.
Set up in July 2022, ZEVI is a dedicated office within the Department of Transport charged with supporting consumers, the public sector, and businesses to make the switch to zero-emission vehicles.
The office’s work is an ambitious target within Climate Action Plan 2024 to have an expected 30 per cent of the country’s private car fleet switched to electric by 2030. Supplementing this target is an ambition to have 195,000 plug-in EVs on the road by 2025, and a 300 per cent increase in charging capacity in the same timeframe.
Offering an assessment of Ireland’s positive EV progress to date, Fallon points out that there are currently over 114,000 EVs with a plug on Irish roads. Market choice has also increased, with over 31 brands (over 70 models) available, and price points reduced, meaning price parity with internal combustion engines is getting closer.
The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) mandates the need for 1.3KW of battery electric vehicle charging per vehicle and 0.8KW of charging per plug-in hybrid. To meet these power targets for infrastructure charging for light good vehicles, Ireland will need to increase charging capacity by at least 300 per cent by 2025.
“That is a tall order, especially in a country where we have so much home charging,” says Fallon. “The amount of public charging is a challenge to deliver and effectively means that we need to go from 71MW of charging to 214MW by the end of 2025.”
Also required, as outlined in the draft National Road EV Charging Network Plan, Ireland will need to increase the number of charge points from 2,100 to between 3,200 and 6,210 nationally (depending on need). For light good vehicles, a charging pool is required every 60km on the motorway network, while for heavy-duty vehicles between 1.4MW to 7MW will be required every 60 to 100km.
The Draft Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan is the second element of the National EV Charging Network Plan and follows the development of the National Road Network EV Charging Plan, which was launched for public consultation in September 2023.
The National Road Network EV Charging Plan is being delivered in close collaboration with TII and ESB to increase EV charging infrastructure on motorways, as well as national primary and secondary roads. Meanwhile, the draft Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan is being developed in conjunction with local authorities.
ZEVI launched the National En-Route EV Charging Network Plan for Consultation in September 2023, setting out the quantum and frequency of charging power along the major roads network. Fallon explains that extensive international research, alongside detailed modelling, highlighted that simply meeting the requirements of the Alternative Fuel Regulation would fall short of what was needed on Ireland’s national road network.
“Importantly, within our modelling, we looked at the personas who would be using the network and compiled eight categories, resulting in targets for both light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles.”
The draft plan also addresses potential market enablers, such as financial supports, grid applications for heavy-duty vehicles, battery technologies, and a review of planning requirements. In relation to standards, it builds upon the Universal Design Guidelines for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure published at the end of 2023, while also bringing forward measures included in the Alternative Fuel Regulation such as ad-hoc payment, data sharing, and interoperability.
Regional and local EV charging
Currently in development, Fallon explains that the priority aim of the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan will be a shift from a business-led approach to a demand-led approach beyond 2030.
Currently, local EV charging infrastructure has largely been rolled out through private investment, with some public support. However, there is a recognition of the risk being taken on by businesses because of the absence of a fully formed EV market. As part of the plan, ZEVI will task local authorities to develop their own strategies, transitioning towards a planned-led approach.
“From 2025 we intend to be rolling out plan-led infrastructure, which is not solely based on private investment. Delivery of that infrastructure will also enable is to collect data and gain more certainty as to where infrastructure should be best located, which will enable future delivery to be demand led,” Fallon concludes.
