More charging stations needed
Further fast charge sites being rolled out in the next 18 months - ESB
Cavan’s shortcoming when it comes to charging ports for electric vehicles were highlighted at the November meeting of the Cavan Belturbet Municipal District.
The issue was raised in a motion by Cllr Brendan Fay (Ind).
Cllr Fay tabled the motion to discuss how charges could be brought to small towns and villages across the county in a bid to address climate change.
He suggested Government expectations to have one million electric vehicles in operation by 2030 would not be feasible if there were no charging points outside of the larger towns in the county: “We are constantly hearing how we have to be carbon neutral by 2030 and how we have to change to electric cars. I don’t know how that is going to happen if you are coming down the N3 into Virginia and you are stuck in traffic for half an hour,” Cllr Fay said.
He outlined how a local initiative to install a charging point at the Belturbet Post Office had not materialised: “The works were looked at putting in one between An Post and the County Council. The bottom line is it has not gone ahead. How can we have one million electric cars, when there are only chargers in Cavan Town?”
Not suitable for everyone
Supporting his MD colleague Cllr John Paul Feely (FF) said electric cars are not suitable for everyone: “We had experience of an electric car in our house, but we had to get rid of it because it was just not suitable. It’s great for someone who lives in a town, or someone who can live without a car, but if you rely on a car for more than a daily journey to a fixed location then the technology is just not there.”
Cllr Feely said there are many benefits to the electric vehicle but said, because of the gap between urban and rural use, it was not feasible for many people, continuing: “That said the technology will improve and we are very much behind the times. The only fast charger in the county is outside the courthouse here in Cavan and, if you drive west, the next one is in Sligo.”
Cllr Feeley spoke of the importance of charging points in tourist areas: “If you make an appointment, you can charge at the Marble Arch Caves, this is something we need to design into the future amenities of the geopark.”
ESB investment
When challenged on their investment by this newspaper, ESB responded by saying that they are currently undertaking a €20m upgrade programme, with support from the Irish Government’s Climate Action Fund, to expand and enhance the country’s EV charging network.
In terms of the Northwest meanwhile, a spokesperson noted that the State-owned electricity company are in the process of assessing “suitable sites” and will have further high-power and fast charger sites being rolled out in the region in the next 18 months. “This includes new charging hubs at Kells (m3) and Carrick-on-Shannon, which is of benefit to EV drivers in Cavan making longer journeys south and west,” the spokesperson said.
They added that chargers were initially free to use to encourage EV uptake. However, since the introduction of pricing on a phased basis in 2019, ESB is committed to supporting people as more make the transition to EVs.
“Based on our ongoing liaison with EV drivers, we expect most people to continue doing a majority of their charging at home where it is the cheapest and most convenient to do so. A full charge at home can cost as little as €3.”
They added: “The increasing driving range of electric vehicles coming to the market will also change the use of public charging. We are already seeing a more ‘layered’ choice of EV charging options evolve including charging at home, at work, at destinations such as supermarkets and hotels.”