Time to hit the accelerator on EV charging points– Murphy

A substantial increase in electric vehicle (EV) charging points is needed if people are to be encouraged to make the switch away from carbon fuelled cars, a Fine Gael Councillor has said.

Councillor Brídín Murphy, Fine Gael General Election candidate for Wexford said: “For individuals to meaningfully consider switching to electric vehicles, they must have reliable access to charging stations and well-maintained roads to drive on.

“EV sales in Ireland are flagging, and in rural areas we know that drivers are more likely to opt for hybrids or continue using petrol and diesel vehicles.[1]

“To achieve our ambitious goal of having 1 million electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030, we need to drastically expand the availability of EV charging points.

“The current rollout pace is clearly insufficient to meet our targets and we must ensure that no vehicle is ever more than 35 kilometres from a fast charger. Enacting this commitment would eliminate one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption.

“While the announcement of the planned installation of charging points at 17 motorway locations over the coming year is a welcome step, it should have been implemented some time ago. More must be done to close the gap and ensure comprehensive coverage.

“In petrol or diesel cars, drivers never worry about finding the next fuel station. We need to ensure the same confidence for electric vehicle drivers.

“Crucially, we need to invest in quality road infrastructure to support EVs. Last May, Minister Eamon Ryan noted that the number of publicly available charge points had increased from 1,700 in September 2022 to 2,400, with a number of additional charge points planned for delivery over the next year.

“But we’re still lagging behind, and it’s time to hit the accelerator. Our vision for a greener Ireland is within reach, but only if we supercharge our efforts now.” Councillor Bridín Murphy concluded.