Talks on improving electric car charging network
Cavan County Council is in talks to set up a network of electric vehicle chargers across the county.
As it stands, a small number of chargers are provided by ESB Networks and some private companies at locations across Cavan.
However, the recent meeting of Cavan County Council heard concerns that this is not enough and an increased number of the chargers is needed.
“I was contacted by a man about eight or nine weeks ago,” said Council Cathaoirleach Clifford Kelly (FF).
“He was on a trip with his family in the car and his battery had gotten low. I told him the only charger was in Bailieborough or in Carrickmacross but he didn’t know if he would get there.”
Director of Services for Transportation, Paddy Connaughton, said Cavan has a “limited number of slow chargers”, which take between six and eight hours to fully charge a vehicle.
He said faster chargers would come with an additional cost of €10,000 to €12,000 annually and can cost up to €150,000 to install.
However, he said discussions are underway with a private company to install a network of fast chargers across Cavan.
“We are in talks with a provider to supply chargers at no cost to the council. I’m hoping there will be a memorandum of understanding in the coming weeks.”
Councillors welcomed the news and were vocal in highlighting issues with charging facilities in their areas.
Fine Gael Councillor Carmel Brady asked for clarity on who is responsible for policing the use of chargers, particularly in Cootehill.
“There are chargers at the Whitehorse. There are three [people] that constantly use them. One person leaves their car charging in the morning and goes off on the bus for the day meaning no one else can use it. I don’t know where to direct that to.”
Fianna Fáil’s Sean Smith spoke of the works in Templeport, which saw the installation of chargers at the village’s digital hub.
Cathaoirleach Clifford Kelly questioned what cost burden the council faced if it entered into the agreement on the charger network.
“Will it be expensive for the Council? We have plenty of roads that need fixing too.”
Mr Connaughton said the local authority would not be putting any of its “direct resources” into the scheme.
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